We own a small rural Pub just outside Shefford. During the Covid crisis we  constructed a wooden framed, covered outdoor area in our garden to allow us to trade & to keep the Pub from closing. It was built with the help of many of the locals that come here, giving up their spare time to help out. Whilst this helped us control our build cost we invested over £20k in its construction.  This “marquee” is an asset to the premises and has been used extensively. 

It has been vital to our continued opening and has provided a much needed service to our customers, some of whom are vulnerable, who have been able to continue to interact with others in a safe way. 

Unfortunately we have been contacted by Central Bedfordshire Council and told that Planning Officers consider it to have “a harmful impact on the character of the building & has significant visual harm to the wider character & appearance of the area” so is therefore unlikely to get a planning application granted for it.

We are keen to retain the Marquee for the benefit of the pub, our customers and also due to the ongoing covid issues which could put us in a position of having to revert to outdoor trading come the Winter months.

Please help us keep our pub, a vital part of our community, open. The statistics around pub closure are terrifying and put simply we’re more than just a number. Thank You.