A restaurant is planning “much-needed” upgrades which it says are vital to secure its long-term viability and bring it up to modern standards.
Owners of The Harvester in Ashford want to revamp the dining area and outdoor areas with the hope of turning the spaces into a “vibrant destination”.
Documents submitted to Ashford Borough Council by planning consultant Boyer show the chain’s parent company Mitchells and Butlers want to make the changes to “meet modern-day expectations” and “support the site’s viability”.
Planning documents say: “The proposed works seek to ensure the public house will continue to be a vibrant destination, assisting in helping to retain and attract new patrons.
“The scheme simply looks to make more efficient use of the current space on site to enhance the overall customer experience and in doing support the Bybrook Barn’s long-term vitality and viability.”
New lighting is proposed to be installed along the existing garden pergola and the front seating area.
A new timber-covered pergola would then be added to the rear service yard along with new plant beds.
The walkway connecting the barn to the main restaurant could also benefit from new floodlighting.
Upgrades to the dining area would mainly be cosmetic but also involve removing a partition wall and installing two new ones.
It is hoped the new layout will improve accessibility to the ground floor and create a more functional and inclusive space.
The changes will be kept to the garden and restaurant areas and will avoid the Grade II-listed barn which houses the bar at the front of the building.
The company insists the scope of the works will be kept to the minimum needed to improve the overall function of the pub.
The plans come as a previous application to build a ‘glass-fronted garden room’ at the restaurant was withdrawn.
Initially put forward in 2022, bosses wanted to build an all-weather space to the left of the restaurant, upgrading the existing outdoor seating area.
But the updated plans replace this idea while still hoping to optimise the space.
Mitchells and Butlers also own restaurant chain Miller & Carter which was planned for scrubland opposite the Harvester between the Holiday Inn hotel and the M20.
Planning permission for the £4 million 170-seater steakhouse was granted in 2019 however the deal fell through and the 1.85-acre site was again put on the market for £500,000.
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German supermarket chain Aldi then snapped up the land and started work on building a new store days after planning permission was granted.
As part of the development, a number of traffic lights will be installed – including at the Cemetery Lane junction which leads to Longacres Bybrook Barn and Harvester – to manage traffic along the A28.
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