THE historic Minehead harbourside public house The Old Ship Aground will be extensively refurbished if new plans are given the go ahead.

The pub has been a feature of Quay Street, in Minehead, since the 1880s.

Owners Hall and Woodhouse wants to make a wide range of changes to the grade two listed building, improving both its external appearance and its functionality.

It wants to extend an existing cellar and install new doors and timber cladding, with a metal staircase removed and new air conditioning units fitted.

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

The ground floor will retain its existing layout, but bathrooms will receive new tiling and lighting, with new panels and flooring throughout the rooms.

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

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.

Planning agent Elizabeth Godfrey, of 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.”

Town councillors supported the plans and welcomed the scale of the investment in the pub with its prominent location on the harbour.