New Carlton Arms pub set to open at former Cosham social club
National pub chain will transform vacant Cosham social club into community pub
A long-vacant Cosham social club is set for a new lease of life, with the “Carlton Arms” pub set to open by November.
The vacant social club on Wayte Street can now be converted into a pub following approval by Portsmouth City Council in July.
Amber Taverns, which operates around 200 pubs across the country, will open the building up to the whole community, rather than it remaining a members-only club.
Planned external works include the removal of the flat-roof section of the 1960s extension “to provide a beer garden”.
Planning documents also state: “extensive re-modelling of the interior would also take place.
“The ‘hall’ section would be largely mothballed and remain unused, with the pub taking the ground floor area.
“A smoking area would be enlarged slightly to the rear, opening onto Fire Station Close.
“The existing residential unit on the upper floors would be enlarged to form a three-bedroom flat with bathroom, kitchen and living room.”
In recent days Amber Taverns posted on social media that the pub, named the Carlton Arms, will be opening in November this year.
The operators have promised darts, pool, live entertainment, meat raffles and a “great new community pub for Cosham”.
The council granted planning permission subject to a number of conditions, including that work must begin within three years of permission being granted.
The permission also places restrictions on the use of the open-air beer terrace. It must close between 10pm and 9am from Sunday to Thursday, and between midnight and 9am on Friday and Saturday nights.
The internal door to the terrace must also remain closed outside opening hours, except in emergencies.
The Cosham social club reportedly closed in May this year. The reasons for its closure are not yet clear, but it comes amid a wider decline in social clubs and pubs, with rising operating costs, changing social habits and the cost-of-living crisis all contributing.
Amber Taverns has previously transformed the former Conservative social club on Walpole Road in Gosport into a pub.
Residents can view the application on the council’s planning portal using the planning reference 26/00601/FUL.