The last pub in Barton Hill could be saved from being turned entirely into flats - but locals who have campaigned to save it from this fate remain unhappy with a developer's new plans for it.
The Rhubarb Tavern has been the subject of an ongoing battle between residents who want to save their neighbourhood's last pub, and a developer, London-based Natan Ltd, which has previously applied to convert it into housing. But a new planning application which proposes to build six flats on part of the land at the rear of The Rhubarb and retain the ground floor as a pub has been met with uncertainty.
Other pubs in the area such as, The Lord Nelson, The Swan and The Russell Arms have all closed in recent years, and The Rhubarb Tavern shut in 2020. Alexander Smith, who has helped lead the campaign to save it, told Bristol Live that he is opposed to flats being built on it in any form.
Read more: 'Momentary victory' as plans to turn last Barton Hill pub into flats withdrawn
"I think the mood is still we're unsatisfied, because for myself I didn't think that this campaign would have to go on for as long as it is, having to constantly fight left right and centre against all these new applications going in. And it's clear that this campaign's going to be carried on for some time still," he added.
In May 2021, Bristol City Council received an application to convert the Queen Ann Road pub into six flats, along with eight additional apartments in a new three-storey building in its garden. That application was later withdrawn and has been followed by this new application.
However, the pub will not reopen immediately if the new planning application is approved by Bristol City Council. A document submitted with the application by architect Chris Goodsall on behalf of the applicant says that while it "will not in itself allow the pub to re-open, it allows the possibility that a viable offer can be obtained to launch a new business there."
The document also defends the proposed redevelopment of the land, and says: "The community response to the potential re-development of The Rhubarb Tavern seems to be in favour with few people expressing any genuine interest in the pub as a business of community focus."
But Alexander says that with other major developments being proposed nearby such as in the Silverthorne Lane area, he would object to any plans for housing on the pub's land.
"From much consideration we are opposed to any sort of flats being built there. Now that approval has been given for the Silverthorne Lane regeneration just on the other side of the railway bridge there, you will have far more housing being built down there than could ever be gained by building on any part of The Rhubarb," he said.
And he added that he has some questions about the proposed point to the development via the rear of the building, while he worries that there could be noise complaints from the flats if the pub was open. "The pub is the only one left in the area that hasn't been turned into flats, but again looking at the current plans it's still unclear as to what the viability of the pub is going to be.
"Because there's so many competing questions and so many unanswered questions that need to be answered for the pub to remaining running as a place that the community can use and not just be a mish mash of a space. Because the garden has always been a place for large events to be held: your fireworks displays, your garden parties, your live bands that would have been in the garden."
