Major upgrade plans for Grade II-listed Beckington pub

The Woolpack Inn in located on Warminster Road in Beckington, near Frome, and can trade its origins back to the 16th century (though much of the existing building was built in the late-18th century).

Greene King has submitted detailed plans to revamp the pub, including a significant internal reconfiguration, to offer improved accommodation as well as boosting food sales and securing its long-term place in the community.

Somerset Council is expected to make a decision on the proposals before Christmas, meaning work could begin in early-2027.

The pub lies at the junction of Warminster Road, Frome Road, Church Hill and Bath Road in the centre of the village, a short distance from the primary school and St. George's Church.

Under the plans, the bar and dining areas will be comprehensively refurbished, with improvements being made to the guest bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms and a new accessible toilet being installed on the ground floor.

The existing manager's accommodation will be reconfigured to "improve functionality", with the current flat roof over the dining areas being replace with a pitched roof and skylights to improve its appearance and enhance diners' experience.

The courtyard will be extensively repaired, with improvements to the accessible entrance and ramp, new handrails and lighting, and the installation of a timber lean-to pergola.

Finally, the pub's exterior will be repainted to "refresh and enhance its appearance", with a possible subtle change in the colour scheme.

A spokesperson for Design Management Partnership (representing the applicant) said: "The proposed refurbishment and reconfiguration works have been carefully developed to revitalise the public house as a contemporary, community-focused, food-led venue while respecting and preserving the character of the existing building.

The Woolpack Inn on Warminster Road in Beckington (Image: Design Management Partnership)

"The proposed work is modest in scale and has been carefully designed to minimise the impact on the significance of the heritage asset.

"The changes respect and preserve the building's architectural character, historic fabric and setting, ensuring that its heritage significance is conserved and, where appropriate, enhanced.

"There will be a minor external colour pallet change which will refresh and enhance the appearance of the building while preserving its existing architectural integrity.

"Overall, the proposals aim to secure the long-term viable use of the public house through sensitive refurbishment and modernisation, creating a high-quality hospitality venue that positively contributes to the character and vitality of the historic village."

The council is expected to make a decision on the proposals within the next three to four months.

Greene King has not indicated whether any partial or full closures of the pub will be required to implement all the improvements.