Convenience store plans for historic Old Portsmouth pub

A historic Old Portsmouth pub building could be converted into a convenience store and flats if new plans are approved by the city council.

Surrey-based developer Warblington Street Limited has applied for planning permission to revamp the Mary Rose and Dragon in St George’s Road which housed a restaurant until its closure in March, while keeping the pub facade.

“The site is currently vacant and not maintained,” a statement submitted on behalf of the firm says. “It does not provide any positive contribution to St George’s Road or the quality of residential environment in the surrounding area.

“The [Old Portsmouth] conservation area has a very limited range of food shops, other than a couple convenience stores. The proposal will benefit the community with a new proposed convenience retail store.”

The proposal includes minor changes to the front of the building, to allow new doors to be installed, and an extension at its rear to facilitate the creation of two two-bed flats on the upper floor of the building which had also been used by the restaurant.

The parking area at the front of the building would be kept solely for use by customers of the convenience store.

Should planning permission be granted by the council, the new shop would be allowed to open from 7am until 11pm seven days a week.

The developer has cited the April decision of its planning committee to approve the demolition of the nearby The Invincible to make way for a co-living block as justification for the approval of the change of use of the building.

The Mary Rose pub dates back to 1883 and underwent a major refurbishment to mark its 100th anniversary in 1984. It became The Dragon Chinese restaurant in 2005.

The council has set a deadline of October 27 for reaching a decision on the application which was submitted earlier this month.