A popular Whitley Bay pub will be undergoing a rebrand after closing its doors to customers.
The Briar Dene, located at The Links, has had planning permission approved by North Tyneside Council to be renamed 'The Lighthouse' and will now undergo structural and "cosmetic" renovations. The redevelopment also seeks to introduce a pavement café with access to the main venue via four French doors.
The fish and chip shop attached to the pub will now have a "traditional timber shop front" and a new entrance facing the street. In addition, three parking spaces will be removed from the north of the car park to allow for a drive-through, and a order and pick-up area.
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The alterations and the new café space are being brought in with the hope of attracting new customers passing by.
The pub owners also claim the drive-through for the fish and chip shop will reduce the risk of littering by serving food "directly to the customer within their own vehicle".
The application for the renovations concluded: "The design respects the desire to enhance the local community by putting the property into viable uses consistent with the local values. The space should be admired by the local community and the proposal allows for this."
The Briar Dene pub's Facebook page posted on January 8: "Due to essential maintenance, we will be closed for the foreseeable future.
"We apologise for any inconvenience, our sister pubs Pavilion Bar and Grill and Shiremoor House Farm are still open as usual."
In 2015, the Briar Dene was the subject of an arson attack resulting in a £1.6m renovation. The pub was first featured on maps back in 1920 and was labelled as the 'Briar Dene Hotel'.
The Briar Dene, soon to be The Lighthouse, is one of several pubs owned by the hospitality chain Sir John Fitzgerald Ltd. Other Fitzgerald pubs include The Pavilion, Shiremoor House Farm, and The Green.
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