New look for New Inn (From Malvern Gazette)

New look for New Inn

9:00am Sunday 2nd September 2007 in News By Tarik Al Rasheed

A MALVERN Link pub has announced plans for a major expansion and overhaul.

The New Inn, in Lower Howsell Road, is set to be extended by around 70 sq m to accommodate a new carvery area and promote a bigger emphasis on dining.

Landlord John Horsley said the revamp would address a lack of places for people to eat in the area. He added that it would move the pub away from being an old-fashioned men's drinking pub'.

"It's a major development and we are all very excited about it," he said. "There's not really anything else like it in the area, and we hope it will be the bees-knees."

The pub's lounge and bar are to be converted into one large room, and the kitchen extended. A new heated garden room will also be built, offering somewhere for smokers to enjoy a puff following the tobacco ban.

It may be all change at the New Inn, but one thing that will remain is the pub's selection of games. Darts and crib league matches are regularly held at the venue, and the proposals will see an extra darts board installed on a raised area.

Malvern Hills District Council has received a planning application on behalf of pub owners Marston's Brewery, and Mr Horsley said the plans were to get the work started quickly if and when permission was granted.

"The brewery have said they would like it finished around two weeks before Christmas," he said. "It's major work, and it will take 10-12 weeks for the whole job. We will have to close for a short period, but we don't know exactly when and how long for yet."