By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
The landlord of a Cheltenham pub is as determined to fend off a second attempt to redevelop the inn he runs.
Plans to turn The Bell Inn, in Bath Road, into five homes were rejected by Cheltenham Borough Council earlier this year after hundreds of people opposed the potential loss of the pub.
The pub has since been granted extra protection as an asset of community value which should shield the site from inappropriate development and allows the community a chance to buy the inn.
But now a new attempt is being made to convert the grade II-listed building to provide housing in the spa town.
Peter Glanville, who owns the building, wants to convert 70 Bath Road into three flats, one studio flat, a one-bed flat and a two-bed maisonette with a courtyard garden.
Commercial space would be kept on the ground floor – this could be a public house or a community asset.
But publican Chris Evans, 79, believes the development should not be allowed to go ahead as it would make the pub unviable.
“The pubs are valuable assets in this area of Cheltenham and they shouldn’t be allowed to be closed,” he said.
He said all his customers are against the plans and he has seen a surge in bookings for accommodation due to closures nearby.
“The other thing is that we, as well as doing the pub and the meals, do accommodation.
“And in the course of 2025, we’ve been busier than ever doing accommodation.
“So the development shouldn’t be allowed to happen.
“The new plans would effectively just halt the pub anyway because the only bit that would be left would be the bar. You just wouldn’t be able to exist on just the bar because it’s too small.”
When asked by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Mr Evans confirmed he was determined as ever to carry on.
And Rich Newman, who led the previous campaign to save the pub, said the Bell’s supporters will rally around the cause again.
“The organisers of the original Save the Bell campaign will once again call upon the support of the public to prevent this pub being closed down by the new planning proposal,” he said.
“Should the Borough Council approve this planning proposal this would be wilful contravention of the asset of community value status which had previously been accredited to the Bell.
“As under the new proposal the Bell would be prevented from functioning as it is”.
People have until September 10 to comment on the proposals and can do so by searching for application 25/01196/FUL on the council’s online planning portal.
Borough planners are aiming to decide the proposals by October 15.