Major refurbishment planned for the grade II listed Ancient Unicorn Hotel

PLANS have been submitted to remodel the inside of an historic dale hotel to make it more like a “traditional pub”. 

The Ancient Unicorn Hotel, in Bowes,
had become overgrown before new owners took over
and gave it a new lease of life   

Interior walls of the grade II listed Ancient Unicorn Hotel, in Bowes, were striped out in the 1970s making for a huge open plan area.

Now the owners want to divide up the area into a pub, lounge and dining room.

This, the say, is typical of rural pubs in the area.

If approved the alterations will also include new bedrooms.

Acting on behalf of the owners agent Christopher Fish said: “Historically the proposal will reinstate some of the form the bar previously enjoyed and the change in accommodation to add the central lounge to the range of bar rooms will begin to revert the pub to a more traditional layout of small rooms.

“It is considered that the change to the layout of the building will have an impact on the character of the interior of the building which in historic terms is considered positive as it will reinstate some of the layout lost in the 1970s and can be thus considered beneficial to the character of the heritage asset.”

The Darlington branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA welcomed the planning proposal describing it as a “sensible way to assist the economic viability of the hotel”.

Plan for the alternations were altered following an objection from Bowes Parish Council because the initial drawings had bedrooms without windows.

The council said: “These alterations do not meet the expected standard of accommodation to improve tourism in the Teesdale area.”

Newly submitted drawings makes provision for windows in all the bedrooms.

Mr Fish said: “Now all rooms will have windows which I think is a definite improvement.”