Crooked Spaniards Pub Owner Loses

[Cornishman]

The owner of the Crooked Spaniards Pub at Cargreen on the Cornwall bank of the Tamar has had his application to planners to convert it into a house rejected.
Planners will have to consider another application for holiday accommodation and a manager's home on the site, possibly as early as Oct 22.

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[Scillypete]

I hope they turn that down also, it's a great pub to stop at in a wonderful position.
I admit to not having been there for a couple of years, but always intend to visit whenever I am in the Tamar.


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[snowleopard]

there's every chance he will get it this time. in my discussions with the planners in liskeard it seems there is a presumption in favour of commercial rather than residential development. the second scheme could be much more difficult to argue against.



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[Guest]

Maybe thats it ........ without vistors and business - all the good intentions in the world don't keep it open !!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I came - cos they said was FREE Guinness !
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[jamesjermain]

Great news, Mike, thanks for the post. I was just about to ring the Piries to find out if there was any news.

The application for a managers' house and holiday accommodation has already been turned down once. I suspect this is a modified plan. Up to now the planners have been steadfast against further development in this SSSI area but there seems to be a feeling in the village that eventually one of these applications will succede. I hope it's not this one which is very dense and intrusive. Also there is already accommodation over the pub which the current 'managers' choose not to use.

<hr width=100% size=1>JJ

 

[T_C]

James is spot on, there is plenty of existing un-utilised space that could be used for letting rooms. The "beauty" of the current plan is that, in a few years time, they can say "look, the business still isn't viable" and, voila, there's the pub, some chalets and a "manager's house" for conversion to residential, 3 instead of the previous 1 !
BTW, not sure if this is a revised application from the one earlier in the summer, I have a feeling they withdrew it and have now resubmitted.

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[jamesjermain]

You\'re right about the application. nm

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<hr width=100% size=1>JJ

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Sorry, I dont know the pub or the area but presumably it is making a loss so why should'nt the owner try to turn it into something else. What gives people the right to expect local facilities to remain available if they're not frequenting them enough for the owner to make a profit and if people think that this pub can make a profit why are'nt they offering to buy the place?


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[hlb]

Well I was thinking on the same lines. Now I've visited the Spaniards a few time. You can tie up right outside at high water. The foods been excelent when I've been there. Trouble is. Its in a little village that looks to be miles from anywhere. I've only been by water. So perhaps should not comment on that. It would be a pitty to see it go as there are very few places to moor in the whole of plymouths rivers and Sound. However we can not expect the guy to make a living out of one of us lot turning up or expect him to operate as a quaint unpaid warf provider.

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[doug748]

Great news, for now anyway. In my letter to the Council I suggested that the pub be listed....was this a daft suggestion?

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[jamesjermain]

The old, 'original' part could possibly be. All the function rooms, kitchens etc - no.

Incidentally, the pub does make money and could make a lot more if it got in tune with the village. The current owners see more money being made from other activities. It is the only pub in what is still a thriving local community and would be a huge loss to the neighbourhood, as well as a significant blow to local tourism.

<hr width=100% size=1>JJ

 

[Cornishman]

There have been several posts on the line that if it is making a loss the owner has the right to try to close it and do something else with the premises. Quite right, but the fundamental question is why is it not viable? IMHO it is because of incompetence on the part of the 'manager' i.e. the owner's son.
What makes me say this? I have lived in the Tamar Valley for about 20 years now and I could take you to half a dozen pubs most of which are far deeper in 'the stix' than the Spaniards and all are doing good business, summer and winter. So why can't this guy? He has good road and river access and a superb site in a nice village, which only leaves one factor as far as I can see. Poor management.
Save Our Spaniards Group - Beware. The next application is the real one you need to be fighting. The planners cannot stop him just shutting up shop, and once he has the accommodation planning approved he is more than half way to his original plan.

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[Scillypete]

Maybe I should spell it out, I have been there many times just not for a year ot two. I have spent nights alongside the quay after frequenting the pub, not the best bottom in the world but I had a cat and it was fine.
each time I have been the bar has been fairly busy not overcrowded but all the tables seemed to be occupied.
IMHO whoever is running it wants to make faster money without the antisocial working hours of the pub/restaurant business, easily done in today's property market.

I have visited this establishment both by road and water on quite a few occassions and would have liked to have seen it improved as a going concern rather than given up on.

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