Lawrence Weston’s The Giant Goram pub to be sold at auction as developer gives up on homes plan

Owners Hawkfield Homes lost its appeal to replace the pub with homes last year

The last pub standing in Lawrence Weston is to be sold at auction - after its owner appeared to give up on its plan to replace it with homes.

The Giant Goram in Barrowmead Drive was built around 1960 and is situated in the heart of estate, surrounded by housing developments which were constructed at the same time.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The pub closed its doors in 2019 before being sold by The Wellington Pub Company to Hawkfield Homes, sparking a campaign by the Bristol branch of Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) to save the much-loved boozer.

The campaign received a boost when the developer’s application to replace the pub with seven homes was turned down by Bristol City Council in 2020, and then a subsequent appeal against the decision was dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate last year.

That appeared to be the last straw for Hawkfield Homes, which has now put the property forward for auction next month, with a guide price of £290,000.

The Giant Goram pub site in Lawrence Weston, Bristol.The Giant Goram pub site in Lawrence Weston, Bristol.
The Giant Goram pub site in Lawrence Weston, Bristol.

Hollis Morgan is holding the auction on February 16.

In its listing on the property, it described the site as a detached 1960s pub with residential accommodation on upper floors, parking and gardens.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It also said: “The property is suitable for a range of potential residential and commercial developments subject to consents.”

The Bristol branch of CAMRA wants the pub reopened for the community following the loss of several other pubs in the area in recent years, including the Penpole Inn, the Long Cross and the Masons Arms.

The pub is also listed in the CAMRA South West Real Heritage Pubs.

On its website, the Bristol branch said: “If the pub is lost, there is very little else in Lawrence Weston for the community. Locals were saying the pub is the hub of the community.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But owner Hawkfield Homes said the pub was no longer economically viable - a claim which was refuted by the Planning Inspectorate last year.

In his ruling, inspectorate John Wilde said: “It has not been demonstrated that the pub is no longer economically viable or that a diverse range of public house provision exists within the locality.”

He added the the council’s planning policy required existing community facilities to be retained unless there was no longer a need.

Related topics:

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.