A wave of relief and applause filled the public gallery as Cotswold District Council rejected plans to convert the beloved Twelve Bells pub in Lewis Lane into a residential home with an accompanying bed and breakfast.
The proposal, submitted by Hywel James, sought to transform the pub—which has been closed since its sale in 2024—into private residences. Despite recommendations for approval from planning officers, the plan faced significant public opposition. More than 150 residents and the Cirencester Town Council voiced their strong objections, highlighting the pub’s value as a vital community hub.
Objector James Brown emphasized the pub’s importance, saying, “The Twelve Bells is clearly a valuable community asset, as reflected in the overwhelming objections. Even immediate neighbours do not support the conversion proposal, which is unusual when a pub closure is involved.” He added that the plans “offer no public benefits, only harm,” noting the loss of local social activities and employment opportunities associated with the pub’s closure.
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Representing the applicant, Joe Seymour argued that a comprehensive marketing campaign demonstrated the pub was no longer viable and that no publicans or breweries were willing to take it on. “Pubs only close when no one is prepared to manage them profitably,” he stated.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Joe Harris strongly opposed the plans, highlighting their potential “permanent and irreversible harm” to the community. He pointed out that sale details showed the business previously generated adjusted net profits around £150,000, signifying a profitable venture with room for growth.
Independent Councillor Nikki Ind lamented the dwindling number of pubs in southern Cirencester, listing several others that have closed in recent decades. Conservative Councillor David Fowles, a local town guide, reminded the council that Cirencester once had around 80 pubs over 100 years ago but now only has about seven viable establishments. He stressed the pub’s historic value as a Grade II-listed free house and warned, “Once they’re gone, they don’t come back.”
After passionate debates and strong community support, the committee voted eight to one (with one abstention) to refuse the planning permission. Councillor Harris thanked the public for their engagement, emphasizing that the decision protected a cherished and viable community asset with no real public benefit offered in exchange for its loss.