Plans have been revealed to revamp the historic Ship Inn in Levington.
An application received by East Suffolk Council in July suggests expanding the pub’s seating and dining area.
The Ship, which can be found in Church Lane in Levington, is a Grade II listed building, which is believed to date back to the 14th century.
An historic assessment completed by historian Alan Greening said that the brick chimney and hearths which are visible today would have been built in Tudor times, when it became fashionable to improve houses by controlling heat and smoke.
A design and access statement has been prepared by Nick Haward Building Design & Management Services described the pub as having a “small dining room”, a cellar and a kitchen extension to the north of the original listed building.
It continued: “A modern largely underused redundant domestic accommodation block lays to the east. A detached wash-up and storage barn is located to the north of the eastern accommodation block extension.
“These modern additions and uses clearly show a rather piecemeal (haphazard even) development of the site and premises.
“In its current form the business cannot expand to meet the demand of this very picturesque and pleasantly situated public house which is sited at the eastern end of Levington.”
The plans therefore suggest using the entire front-facing part of the pub as a dining and seating area. A renovated kitchen and two refrigeration areas would be relocated to the back of the building, which is currently a storage and “wash-up” area.
The design and access statement continued: “The new dining room, depending on final table seating arrangements, should be able to accommodate around 70 seat covers.
“The proposed eastern terrace can accommodate additional outside seating of around 60 covers.”
East Suffolk Council has not yet made a decision on the outcome of this application.
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