Amber Taverns applies to turn Cosham Social Club into community pub
The vacant social club could become public house after national chain applies for planning permission
A national pub company wants to turn Cosham Social Club into a pub, promising jobs and investment for the area.
Amber Taverns, which runs around 200 pubs across Britain, has applied to Portsmouth City Council for permission to convert the two-storey building on Wayte Street into a community pub open to anyone – rather than members only.
The plans would see the flat roof at the front of the building knocked down to make way for an outdoor beer terrace, along with a full internal revamp. The pub would serve drinks and bar snacks, but there are no plans for a full kitchen.
If the council gives the go-ahead, the pub would open from 11am until midnight every day and would create five full-time and 15 part-time jobs.
Planning consultants PWA Planning, who prepared the application on behalf of Amber Taverns, say the change would be good for Cosham, arguing it will “directly enhance the vitality and viability of the Cosham area”.
Neighbours may be worried about noise from the outdoor terrace. The company has hired acoustic specialists Sustainable Acoustics to carry out a noise assessment, though this had not been submitted when the application was first lodged. The plans confirm there will be no speakers or amplified music outside.
A manager’s flat already exists on the first floor of the building, and the plans would make it slightly bigger by taking in a former committee room next door.
The pub would be open to the public rather than club members, which the applicant says makes better use of a prominent building that is currently underused.
Cosham social club reportedly shut down in May this year, the reasons why are not yet clear but it follows a national trend of social clubs and pubs closing down due to a combination of high operational costs, changing social habits, and the cost-of-living crisis.
Amber Taverns were successful in transforming the former conservative social club on Walpole road in Gosport into a pub.
Residents and view and comment on the application on Portsmouth City Council’s planning portal using the planning reference 26/00601/FUL.