AN historic West Somerset public house is to undergo an extensive refurbishment after planning permission was secured.

The Old Ship Aground, on the harbourside in Minehead, has been a feature of Quay Street since the 1880s.

Hall and Woodhouse, which now owns the pub, plans a wide range of changes to the grade two listed building aimed at improving both the external appearance of the detached, stone and rendered building, and its functionality.

The cellar will be extended with new doors and timber cladding, a metal staircase will be removed, and new air conditioning units fitted.

The entire pub will be repainted in a ‘more subtle and muted colour scheme’, with existing windows re-dressed and doors refurbished.

On the ground floor, the existing layout will be retained, but upstairs, bathrooms will have new tiling and lighting.

New flooring will also be provided on the first and second floors, with new tiling in en-suite rooms and ‘acoustic underlay’ to improve patrons’ experience.

Bar areas will be extensively revamped, with beer mats removed from the existing beams and ‘relocated to the ceiling’.

Planning agent Elizabeth Godfrey, of Bristol-based Planning Potential, said: “The proposed changes are required in order to refresh and revitalise the pub.

“It is considered that proposed alterations would result in an overall improvement of the pub with regard to functionality and aesthetics.

“Some elements of the pub have fallen into poor condition and therefore require refurbishment.

“This includes window frames and ceilings.

“The internal refurbishment will also help to enhance customer satisfaction and experience.

“This is of particular relevance to the hotel rooms.

“Through an improvement in the hotel rooms, this will help to attract more visitors and help the pub and hotel to optimise revenue.

“The colours that have been selected will allow the pub to retain a distinctive identity, while taking into account the surrounding buildings and environment.

“The cellar extension is required in order to aid in the functionality of the pub, allowing it to optimise revenue.”

Minehead town councillors supported the plans, saying ‘an investment of this scale in a town public house, given its prominent location at the harbour, was to be welcomed’.

Somerset Council planning officer Neamh Stephenson said: “The design, scale and appearance of the proposed cellar extension and associated external alterations are considered acceptable within the context of the Minehead Quay Street conservation area and the setting of the grade two listed building.

“The proposal would not result in harm to the significance of the listed building or the character and appearance of the conservation area, subject to appropriate conditions.

“The impact of the proposed development on highway safety, together with its effect on neighbouring residential amenity, is not considered to be materially harmful.”

Hall and Woodhouse bought the premises, which was once called The Pier Hotel, in the summer of 2021.

The company has not indicated how soon the refurbishment work on the public house will begin, nor, how long it was expected to take.