Pub plans suit town council to a ‘tea’

Battle Town Council recently approved plans to turn the 1066 pub, which stands on the High Street, into a bistro and restaurant.

The planning application also include something likely to rouse curiosity - a tea and coffee paraphernalia museum on the first floor of the building.

The application also includes plans for a new entrance to be created on the side wall facing the Abbey Green, toilets in the basement, a disabled toilet on the ground floor, residential accommodation on part of the first and whole second floor, and a large patio behind the building.

Cllr Richard Jessop, chair of the council planning committee, said: “The Battle Town Council raised no objection to this application and are happy that the applicant wishes to commence the final works to the property and have it back in use at the earliest opportunity.

“The application was originally made in March this year and several issues have needed discussion and resolution.

“The final outstanding matter has been the venting of cooking odours and that appears to be resolved.

“The agent now hopes that the Rother District Council will be able to favourably decide on this scheme which is likely to be by delegated authority.”

Dale Cromwell, chairman of the Battle and District Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the plans for the 1066.

He said: “It think it’s brilliant.

“We have a wide array of restaurants currently and it can only be a good thing to add another to the mix.

“It’s been empty there for a long old while and it’s great that someone’s seen the potential there to turn it into something new and exciting.”

Rother District Council will have the final say on the application, which is due to be discussed at a planning meeting shortly.

The 1066 closed in 2009 and has stood boarded-up ever since.

Late last year pub chain J D Wetherspoons denied rumours that it was to take over the empty pub.