THE new owners of a country pub have unveiled major plans to extend the popular venue so it can “can continue to serve the local community into the future successfully”.

Candover DFB Ltd recently bought the freehold of The Purefoy Arms, in Preston Candover, after its previous owner and head chef, Gordon Stott, served his last orders on Saturday, January 27, after five and a half years.

A planning application has now been lodged to vastly transform the pub to provide overnight guest accommodation, a café and deli, and an extension to the existing car park, amongst other changes.

READ MORE: Hampshire country pub The Purefoy Arms to close under current owner

Basingstoke Gazette: : Watercolour produced during concept design of Purefoy ArmsThe application states: “The Purefoy Arms has been an operating pub and restaurant for a number of years. However, in the current economic climate for hospitality businesses, every site has to work hard to be profitable, and ensure the offering is up to today’s customers standards.

“The property was recently purchased by the applicants who have set Haines Gadd Greaves (architects) the brief to re-imagine the pub so that it can continue to serve the local community into the future successfully.

“The proposals aim to make the most of the existing buildings and structures on site, with sensitive additions to improve the offering and business. With the intention to bring the whole site up to modern standards in terms of design, performance and hospitality.”

A new extension is proposed which will house three double bedrooms on the first floor for guests, and a lounge and toilets on the ground floor, this will be connected to the new deli which will be opened in an existing barn.

The proposals state: “It is important this wing is subservient to the main pub and the way it connects to the rear of the barn range has been carefully considered.”

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It is also planned for a glazed structure extension to the rear of the pub – which will meet the building’s existing footprint.

As part of the plans the existing car park will be extended as it currently “does not provide adequate aisle widths and bay sizes”.

The application added: “The current informal layout means that car parking was often undertaken in an inefficient way. The car park is extended to the north to add more spaces, electric vehicle charging points will be added to the parking bays.”

The new owners also propose to reinstate an historic feature on the front of the pub. An entrance canopy could be put up to allow “some seating to be created undercover on the frontage, making the pub more inviting and have a more interactive relationship with the street”.

To view the plans, go to planning.basingstoke.gov.uk and search 24/00722/FUL.