A village pub is set to reopen as part of major expansion and refurbishment plans.
The Bridgewater Arms at Winston, has been closed since 2022 after the previous owners struggled to operate the business in the aftermath of the covid pandemic.
A proposal to extend the building and create a four-bedroom home has been approved by Durham County Council.
Owners Jason and Paula Forrest hope the new residential accommodation will make it easier to run the pub as a restaurant and wine bar.
The couple bought the rural pub two years ago and, despite initially trying to lease it out, have now decided to run it themselves.
The pub was built as a school in 1851 and is partly Grade II listed. An existing building houses a flat and commercial kitchen.
A planning statement read: “The Bridgewater Arms has been well-known for its excellent food and was extremely popular.
One of the significant barriers to its long-term success, however, has been the lack of suitable, on-site accommodation, limited to a section of the dated two-storey block to the side.
“The proposed development will address this, contributing to the likely reopening of the commercial restaurant/bar and its continued viability into the future.
“This, in turn, not only has economic benefits, but also social benefits: the property was a valued community asset, providing a meeting place and a community facility for those in Winston and neighbouring towns and villages.
“The social significance of the building will be protected by the continued use of the building by the public and the community.”
Winston Parish Council said it supports the redevelopment and reopening as it will be an important village asset.
The refurbishment of the building is expected to begin later this year.
