Hopes of keeping historic Ivy House pub in Stradbroke open dealt major blow

Published: 05:00, 17 December 2020

| Updated: 10:17, 17 December 2020

Hopes to keep the doors open of a Suffolk pub hit hard by the coronavirus crisis were dealt a devastating blow when plans to develop it into a home were submitted this week.

In its submission to Mid Suffolk District Council, Hollins Architects claimed that the Ivy House pub in Wilby Road, Stradbroke, had been taken “beyond the point of return” by the pandemic, and is seeking permission to develop it into a strictly residential property.

Landlords Egil and Sue Stenseth had listed the pub for sale with an asking price of £365,000 in June last year after deciding to retire.

Owners Sue and Egil Stenseth put the pub up for sale after deciding to retire last year PICTURE: Mecha Morton.

However, despite a spirited marketing campaign to save it, the now-uncertain future of the pub trade prevented any interest from potential buyers.

With Suffolk under tier two lockdown restrictions, the Ivy House continues to welcome in customers, however, the long term sustainability of the thatched pub now looks increasingly unlikely.

In documents submitted to the district council, the Framlingham architects said that the current “unprecedented” conditions had made the idea of the Grade-II listed building remaining as a pub “demonstrably unsustainable”.

The proposals said: “Although the established use of the site is for a public house, the business operation has ceased in recent months following a heavy decline in trade over recent years.

“The current Covid-19 pandemic has hampered business potential significantly, confirming the unviable commercial position beyond the point of return.

“Furthermore, due to the steep economic demands and sharp fiscal downturn through the Covid-19 pandemic, rural public houses are not necessarily conducive for job retention and creation.

“The wet and dry trade market is incredibly unstable, and none more so than a time like now.

“We are living in unprecedented times, and the public house trade is far from secure.

“The idea of job creation on site through a public house use is demonstrably unsustainable, and highly susceptible to local and national decline.”

Since the pandemic began, a number of pubs across Suffolk have closed their doors, with the Manor House pub in Bury Road, Wortham, closing permanently in October, citing the coronavirus crisis as the reason.

Coronavirus Human Interest Suffolk Homepage Joe Hadden