Buyer sought for village pub

A local pub, the only one in its village, is in need of a buyer to turn around its fortunes.

The Queen's Head in Hempnall, south of Norwich, has been closed for more than four years and so far its owner, Paul Ellis, has been unable to sell it as a going concern. However, his application for a change of use to allow the property to be used for housing, has been opposed by Hempnall Parish Council.

The council has undertaken a consultation with the Norwich and Norfolk branch of Camra, writing to the planning authority in a bid to save the pub.

Mike Spivey, the branch's pubs officer, told the Norwich Evening News: “We appreciate that it has been closed for some time but still feel it is fundamentally wrong that a village of this size should be without a pub.

“Demolition and re-development of The Queen’s Head should be strongly discouraged and any application for a change of use is also to be opposed strenuously.”

However, the pub's owner Mr Ellis warned: “Very strict, costly and onerous requirements have been made of me, as part of the planning process, to ensure the issues mentioned in the Camra letter and many more, have been fully explored in order for them to determine the viability (or otherwise) of the pub.”