The Hare and Hounds pub in Blackburn can continue operating its cafe after receiving backdated planning permission.
Ian Robertson owns the pub. He got approval in March 2023 for the room, after the council approved his plan. He saved the pub from closing back in 2014.
The pub needed permission to use the space as a cafe. They also added a porch, and the council said yes, with some rules. No outdoor seating is allowed on the land next door.
The council wrote a report noting that The Hare and Hounds sits on Lammack Road, near Knighton Avenue and Whinney Lane. They had approved an extension before. Now they want to use the extension as a cafe and add a porch to the side. This request came after enforcement officers contacted them.
They asked neighbors about it, sending letters to twenty-eight people. Nobody had any issues. Many pubs have been struggling lately, and this pub is trying something new by running a cafe in the extension.
This helps the pub stay open. It offers food and drinks, which is good for the community. The room will still be used for pub events like bingo and quiz nights. The porch has a flat roof, made of wood panels, which looks good.