Greene King plans for Otter pub in Thorpe Marriott approved

Greene King pub The Otter, in Thorpe Marriott, is set for some upgrades as part of a much bigger renovation project.

Broadland District Council has approved proposals that will see the pub's garden weatherproofed by installing a pergola and a covered walkway, as well as a walk-in freezer.

The Otter pub in Thorpe Marriott will undergo a renovation (Image: Sonya Duncan)

This comes alongside news that the pub will be changing its name to The Old Mill.

The Otter is currently being transformed into a 'Hive' pub, which is a Greene King initiative to encourage budding hospitality managers to experience running their own business - without the huge start-up costs.

As part of the Hive Pub Agreement, Greene King takes care of the property costs, energy bills, stock, marketing, training and ongoing support, while the pub manager oversees the running of the business.

Plans will see a pergola and covered walkway built at the back of the pub (Image: ARC Design via Broadland District Council)

The plans were unpopular with some neighbours who raised several objections to the plans with the district council.

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"Being one of the closest properties to The Otter for 25 years we are very familiar with the degree of local disturbance that it can and has generated in the past," said one homeowner.

The pub opened in 1991 (Image: Sonya Duncan)

"We have had to call on many occasions over the years and ask that the loud music be turned down, that speakers in the garden be turned off or lowered, or that the doors to the rear be closed to keep the music inside the building.

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"It seems from the application that there is an intention to bring the garden into more use, raising the potential for more noise immediately adjacent to the front of ours, and our neighbours' properties."

Broadland's approval included that "no loudspeaker, amplifier, relay or other audio equipment shall be installed or used outside the building" to help manage the noise levels for nearby homes.

The authority last week also approved Greene King's plans for a "rejuvenating refurbishment" which would see the pub's name changed to The Old Mill.