Former Pubs in Cambridgeshire, Sheffield, East Lothian Face Conversions to Flats, HMO, Retail

Several pubs across the UK that have closed in recent years are being repurposed for alternative uses due to financial unviability or prolonged vacancy. In St Neots, Cambridgeshire, the former Brook and Barter pub, empty since 2021, will be converted into nine flats including studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units, with minimal commercial space on the ground floor, despite concerns about overdevelopment and loss of retail vitality. A village pub in Pembrokeshire, the Taberna Inn, closed after the pandemic's impact on hospitality, faces rejection of plans to convert it into a residence, with arguments made that the village retains alternative community venues. Meanwhile, a Musselburgh pub that closed shortly after reopening is set to become a convenience store with a dedicated beer section, reflecting a shift in local commercial use. In Sheffield, the former Sportsman pub is proposed to be transformed into a 16-bed house in multiple occupation, featuring communal and office spaces across three floors, updating previous planning permissions. These cases highlight the challenges pubs face and the varied approaches local councils and developers are taking to adapt or redevelop these sites.