Change of use granted 13/11/2023 and building works underway as of 18/7/2023. Closed long-term 1/4/2022, Council planning enforcement officer informed 20/7/2023. Confirmation of our complaint about possible planning breach received from SMBC on 31/7/2023. Response received 20/11/2023, viz "The site was the subject of a planning application submitted in May, reference DC/088851 and therefore it was not appropriate to consider whether a breach was occurring that might be remedied by the application. The application was approved on 13th November. That means that planning control is regularised and there is no breach to consider. There is therefore no further action for the council to take." Planning Application DC/088850 | Change of use from Public House (Sui Generis) to Fish & Chips Restaurant ( class E) with elevational alterations and erection of extraction flue to rear and erection of new signage to front. Granted 13/11/2023. History: Perhaps, fittingly, owner Martin Wood decided to close on April Fools Day given that he named his erstwhile brewery, Fool Hardy Ales. Martin chose to close things so that he could concentrate fully on the future of his family and personal affairs. The Hope offered six cask ales, four of which were formerly brewed in-house at the Hope's very own micro-brewery, ‘Fool Hardy Ales’ (www.foolhardyales.co.uk). That name was a nod to the past history of the Hope which started life as a Hardy's Crown Ales brewery house; this was then acquired by Bass. Owner, Martin Wood had worked in the past with Outstanding Brewery's Dave Porter, and indeed Dave installed the micro-brewery here. Other changing ales from breweries across the country were available, alongside foreign draught and bottled beers. Two compact rooms, vault to left with a small games room to the rear of that. In the games area you would find a table football machine, a retro arcade video game, and a classic pinball machine. The more comfortably appointed lounge with raised-seating area was to the right. Throughout was done in a modern decor with lovely polished wood floors. Lunches in the form of cold pies were available, these were being served Sun-Thu noon till 8, Fri-Sat noon till 7.