Artists impression of the new JD Wetherspoon pub at Kings Head Yard, Diss

Councillors back new J D Wetherspoon pub for Norfolk town

Dominic Bareham, senior reporter Thursday, January 3, 2013
8:18 PM

Plans for a new J D Wetherspoon pub in Diss have been backed by councillors, though not without concerns about noise and the safety of the pub customers.

Diss Town Council has supported the pub chain’s plan to open the new 6,000sq ft pub and restaurant at King’s Head Yard off Mere Street in a building to be built by landlord Joe Darrell.

However, some councillors were concerned the scheme had been described as a restaurant when it should have been a pub, while others were worried that if the pub secured a licence to open late there could be noise disturbing nearby residents until 2am or 3am.

The other worry was that the pub’s close proximity to the town’s Mere could result in drunken revellers jumping in the water, endangering their safety.

The pub company, which owns 860 outlets across the country, has applied for permission for a mezzanine floor to create two levels within the building and has chosen to open the pub in Diss because they believe their town is suited to their type of pub.

Mr Darrell secured planning permission for the restaurant four years ago, but a further planning application is needed for the mezzanine floor.

The premises will take up part of an existing car park at the Kings Head Yard site and will feature French doors leading to an outdoor paved area where customers can enjoy views of the Mere.

Inside, Mr Darrell said there would be an upstairs section on the mezzanine floor, which is similar to a balcony and a downstairs section with a dining area on each level within the two storey building.

Mr Darrell said the car park, which has been leased by the landlord, will close except for a few spaces left for neighbouring residents.

He added provision would also be made on the pub site for a potential new walkway proposed by Diss Town Council crossing the Mere from behind the council’s offices in Hales Yard to Kings Head Yard.

6 comments

Wetherspoon pubs are great for raising the average standard of clientele in the pubs and bars that the rest of us like to use ;)

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AE

Friday, January 4, 2013
The other option is a new Tesco there.

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Peter Griffin

Friday, January 4, 2013
Nothing to do with snobbery. The addition of another chain big business to the town will create a few low paid jobs, but at a cost. It will destroy some some other local livelihoods by undercutting their prices. Oh and as an added bonus look forward to more drunkenness on the streets of Diss. More broken windows. More violent assaults. More vomit on the streets. Welcome to Diss!

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bookie

Friday, January 4, 2013
What a bunch of snobs!... though living in Diss, I'm not sure what they're being snobby about. If Wetherspoons is good enough for paces like Harrogate, Windsor and Henley On Thames, then it won't exactly be out of character in a place like Diss!!

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Citizen of EUSSR

Thursday, January 3, 2013
Aren't there enough proper Pubs & 'Restaurants' in Diss without introducing a PLASTIC one?

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jayprime

Thursday, January 3, 2013
The degradation of Diss moves on apace. This gem of a market town is being ruined by commercial exploitation and planning malaise. The voids left by retail decay are patched up with bookies, card shops, charity outlets and now, God forbid, a Wetherspoon's in just about the most inappropriate setting imaginable. Betjeman must be spinning in his grave.

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TPW

Thursday, January 3, 2013