Historic Yapton pub to disappear forever

The distinctively-named Shoulder of Mutton and Cucumbers is to be turned into two houses.

Bolrush Developments has received planning permission from Arun District Council for the change of use of the Main Road property.

The permission also extends to the demolition of a rear toilet block and the construction of a bathroom extension.

Listed building consent to reflect the Georgian building's status as a Grade II listed structure within a conservation area was also granted by the council.

An Arun planning officer, Susan Leeson, said in a report: "The property ceased trading over a year ago and has been marketed throughout that time but has remained empty. The site has a distinct lack of off-street parking and there is little on-street parking available. Consequently, the site is unlikely to attract customers unless they live within the locality, within walking distance.

"Therefore, it is not considered that the public house use is viable in this economic climate.

"The building is listed Grade II and, therefore, an alternative use is essential to maintain the structure and fabric of the historic building. A residential conversion to two dwellings would seem a pragmatic approach."

The proposed change of use to a two-bedroom house and a house with at least four bedrooms would not result in any changes to the front elevation because it already contained two separate entrances, she stated. The appearance would stay the same.

Objections by county highways officers to a previous conversion proposal for four flats, plus the building of another four flats, on highway access grounds did not apply to the latest scheme.

By creating just two houses, she added, it would mean a less intensive use of the property. The Shoulder of Mutton and Cucumbers closed on August 1, 2008. Figures included with the planning application for the change of use stated the main income from its bar had halved in the previous years under Enterprise Inns to 21,500 a year.

A fall in its food trade had led to a drop in the licensee's profit by a third in the same period to an annual 20,000 or so.

It would cost 180,000 to solve the pub's structural problems and to make general repairs. That made it unviable when the mere four parking spaces were taken into consideration.

n Planning agent Alan Baker said at the time of the application the name was unique and referred to the staple dish offered to coach travellers two centuries ago when cucumber sauce was a Sussex adjunct to the mutton.

Deeds dated 1694 exist for the original building on the Main Road site. It was believed an early inn had three guest rooms and stabling for two horses. An innkeeper is mentioned in 1725.

The site was later occupied by the Shoulder of Mutton which became the Shoulder of Mutton and Cucumbers in 1832 when the publican was also a wheelwright.

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