The Cross Hands in Bedminster Down to reopen after works plans are approved

Bristol City Council approved the pub owner’s planning applicaton this week
Alex Ross
By Alex Ross
Published 5th Aug 2022, 16:18 GMT
Updated 5th Aug 2022, 16:31 GMT
Plans have been submitted to reopen the Cross Hands pub, which closed more than three years agoPlans have been submitted to reopen the Cross Hands pub, which closed more than three years ago
Plans have been submitted to reopen the Cross Hands pub, which closed more than three years ago

The Cross Hands pub in Bedminster Down will reopen after plans were approved to revamp the old coaching inn by Bristol City Council this week.

Owner The Wring Group Ltd reacted to the decision through a dedicated pub Facebook page with the message ‘now time for the hard work to start to get the much loved community pub open’.

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However, plans to get the pub back open by Christmas have been put back due to a wait on constructions works. The owners have appealed for any local trades people to get in touch.

The planning application submitted in March sets out the intention to carry out a refurbishment of the pub, with a covered courtyard created at the rear for pop-up food stalls for special events and at weekends.

Plans have been submitted to reopen the Cross Hands pub, which closed more than three years agoPlans have been submitted to reopen the Cross Hands pub, which closed more than three years ago
Plans have been submitted to reopen the Cross Hands pub, which closed more than three years ago

The works will also see the downstairs skittle alley replaced with a function room with a small kitchenette serving sandwiches. Upstairs there will be a bar area and an extension providing four bed and breakfast rooms facing onto Bishopsworth Road.

A city council planning officer’s report on the proposal said that the new rooms ‘would not give rise to an unacceptable degree of coverlooking, overbearing or overshawdowing’ due to a lack of nearby homes.

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They added: “It is considered that the proposed development would be acceptable from a design perspective, making effective use of internal and external areas of the public house.”

Four bedrooms facing Bishopsworth Road can be seen above the old skittle alley in designs for the first floor Four bedrooms facing Bishopsworth Road can be seen above the old skittle alley in designs for the first floor
Four bedrooms facing Bishopsworth Road can be seen above the old skittle alley in designs for the first floor

Last year a group of residents registered the site as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) in a bid to stop it being redeveloped.

The plans were supported by Bishopsworth councillor Richard Eddy, who told Bristol World back in May: “I think a thriving community pub still has an important part to play in most areas - unfortunately, the pandemic has seen the sector go into decline and we have seen closures left, right and centre across Bristol.

“But the fact we have the Wring Group who have put money where their mouth is and bought the site for refurbish the pub to secure its future for Bedminster Down, it is good news.”

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