Wadworth Brewery has been given the nod to refurbish a pub in central Wokingham.
The Broad Street Tavern in Broad Street was first constructed in the 1500s and is a grade II listed building. The house was rebuilt in the 18th century, and has been a pub since the mid-1990s.
The earliest part of the building dates to the late 16th century and was rebuilt in the mid-18th century.
An Ordnance Survey map from 1875 shows the historic core building and the northern extension.
The council’s built heritage officer, Roderick McDonald. wrote that most of the proposed alterations to fixtures, fittings, joinery, and the bar are: “all modern fabric and within later parts of the building.
He said: “They all concern the 1995 change of use to a public house, and thus have limited impact upon the historic significance.
“Nevertheless, it is still important for any changes to be appropriate in form, design and material – of which these would be. Given this, no concerns are raised.”
The historic core of the building facing onto Broad Street is the most sensitive as it is the most likely to include the remaining late 16th century fabric.
The changes will include removal of a piece of walling, partial blocking up of a doorway at lower level, alteration to lavatory arrangement, bar and new seats.
According to Mr McDonald, blocking up the doorway is a “lightweight alteration” that’s “effectively cosmetic and easily reversible to reinstate the doorway. Given this, no concerns are raised about this proposal.”
The building was historically a house with rear outbuildings. These outbuildings and the building’s high street position could suggest that trading took place early in its history, but this is unconfirmed in historic records.
The 1839 tithe map shows the positioning of the historic core of structures and the rear outbuildings and extensions along the northern boundary of the plot.
Transformation into an entertainment venue at the end of the 20th century has been credited with securing its long-term conservation after earlier disrepair.
The brewery will carry out ground-floor alterations including a new bar layout, removal of a central pillar or short section of walling to open up the bar area, a low wall to enclose the front room, screening to the food lift, refurbished toilets and new fixed seating in the rear extension.
Council heritage officers concluded the works are minor, largely affect modern fabric, are reversible in key areas and will not harm the building’s special architectural or historic interest or the conservation area.
