Pub owner defends decision to apply for flats conversion

ST JUDE'S LOCALS STEP UP eB QUEST TO SAVE THEIR BOOZER ig

- KATIE OBORN

A PUB owner has warned of the brutal reality of working in hospitality, as he awaits a decision from planners over the future of his venue.

The Grenville, in St Jude’s, could be turned into flats, but locals have backed a petition calling for it to be saved rather than be turned into housing.

The pub’s owner, Andrew Cotterell, 67, bought The Grenville in 2017 and said he had invested about £500,000 in the building.

He has submitted a planning application to Plymouth City Council to change the ground floor from a pub into three flats.

Andrew said he wanted the pub to work when tenants Keith Oliver and Simon Graham took it on, however, “times have been tough” in the years that have followed.

Andrew said he bought The Grenville when it was closed and tried to breathe life into it.

He said: “No one budgeted for Covid, and the hospitality sector was particularly hard hit. Things started off well at The Grenville and we were hopeful it would get even better; however, it has not really recovered since Covid.