AN historic Exmoor public house is set to be converted to accommodate and entertain guests of one of the UK’s top shooting estates.
The Culbone Stables Inn, near Porlock, is Exmoor’s highest pub at more than 1,000 feet above sea level and a mile from Robber’s Bridge, made famous in R.D. Blackmore’s 19th century novel Lorna Doone.
The former coaching inn is now owned by businessman Rupert Martin, of Porlock, who also owns the neighbouring Lillycombe shooting estate, to which guests travel from all over the world during the September to February game shooting season.
Mr Martin has upgraded the premises since buying it in 2017 to provide eight en-suite guest rooms in the main building and two more double bedrooms in the extended Yarner Moor Lodge which he also bought immediately opposite the pub.
Now, Mr Martin is asking Exmoor National Park Authority for retrospective planning permission to change the pub use to a mixed category to allow it to be used for estate hospitality.
The was pub closed during the Covid pandemic and has since only been used for hospitality by the Lillycombe Sporting Club.
Planning agent Claire Sampson, of Bateman Hosegood, said Mr Martin had tried ‘valiantly’ on several occasions to run the Culbone as a business, but each time it failed and had to close again.
In September, 2022, the Culbone and lodge reverted to hospitality for the sporting club using temporary chefs supported by estate staff because Mr Martin could not find direct employees.
Ms Sampson said a new arrangement had been in place since September this year with a local business to provide the hospitality required until January, 2024, covering costs only.
She said: “Investigations have been made with regard to weddings as an alternative income stream and to provide more significant employment opportunities but this has not proved to be viable with no interest to date.
“There would also be the potential for private hire for events or accommodation but the experience of the applicant, local business partners, and market research to date indicates that in the current economic climate this is not currently viable.
“The estate is not willing or able to justify continued losses simply relating to the use class as a public house.
“The property is now well maintained and will continue to be so.
“It has a purpose at the heart of the estate and contributes to the considerable success of the Lillycombe Sporting Club as a much-rivalled venue for shooting.
“The continued success of the shoot will in turn enable the continued use of the Culbone Stables as a hospitality venue.
“The Lillycombe Sporting Club, at the heart of the Lillycombe Estate, is renowned for top class shooting.
“Guests come from all over the UK, and, indeed, internationally, to experience the quality shooting and hospitality provided on the estate.
“The Culbone is at the heart of that experience and provides guests with a comfortable stay alongside Yarner Lodge.
“The estate contributes significantly to the local economy and is arguably the largest employer in the parish.”
Ms Sampson said evidence presented to Parliament showed that shooting on Exmoor provided an economic return from the upland farms and woods where farming margins were thin and alternative sources of income hard to find.
The creation of jobs sustained by shooting was substantial for rural areas and on Exmoor it was estimated there were up to 135 paid gamekeepers, equivalent to 70 full-time jobs, with about 1,600 jobs in the area directly supported by shooting activities.
The national park authority has asked for any public comments on the planning application to be submitted to it by January 12.
The Culbone Stables Inn was also noted for its a coach and horses inn sign painted by famous British artist Rachel Reckitt, who lived in West Somerset, in Old Cleeve.