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Plans revealed for refurb of historic Lancaster hotel and pub

The Toll House Inn in Lancaster

A planning application has gone in for a refurbishment of a historic Lancaster hotel and pub.

Plans have been revealed to revamp the inside of the listed Toll House Inn on the corner of Penny Street and Aldcliffe Road at the gateway to the city centre.

The application is for the "internal refurbishment of ground floor including, removal of one internal lobby, repositioning of bar, insertion/alteration of wall and redecoration".

A report submitted to Lancaster City Council alongside the plans says that the ground floor bar and dining area of the Toll House will be updated to "more represent the style of the building and to elevate the offering of the business".

The report, prepared on behalf of applicant Daniel Thwaites PLC, says: "Internal changes are of a cosmetic nature with minor removals taking place in the form of bar servery reduction and a modern plasterboard lobby to the fire escape situated on the Aldcliffe Road elevation, previously used as a main entrance that has now been changed.

"The remaining changes will be to decoration, fixtures and fittings.

"These will all be inspired by the rich heritage of the area and take influence from the building, its history and a more aspirational offering the business is aiming for.

"The focus is primarily on the ground floor bar and dining area with the exterior garden and upper floor hotel rooms remaining as existing.

"The intention is to better define the interior into dining and bar area with the use of flooring changes, furniture and lighting styles and soft furnishing partitions.

"Operationally, the bar servery is to be reduced to better use the available space to serve the needs of guests.

"The current fittings were installed with the previous significant refurbishment in 2015 and have no historic bearing on the building or its contents.

"Taking into account the history of the building laid out in previous sections, the proposal is to bring more of the style of the building into the interior with the installation of a more traditional paneling, timber work and surfaces, taking inspiration from the local area, history and architecture surrounding it.

"The works see no change operationally within and all points of service and public spaces remain in existing positions though modified in size and style."

The report says that areas of refurbishment will be as follows:

  • Main entrance updated with new division to define areas
  • Main dining area updated with new layout, removal of non-structural, redundant modern lobby, decoration, fixtures and fittings
  • Bar with reduced servery and new formed hotel reception
  • Bar area with new layout, decoration, fixtures and fittings
  • WCss with new cubicle partitions in ladies, retaining floor tiles, new sanitaryware and decoration
  • Counting Room with existing layout and new decoration

Records show that a public house called the White Cross Inn was on or near the Toll House Inn site dating back to before 1820.

During the 1960s the White Cross Inn and the Farmers Arms were amalgamated into the one large pub with rooms above that stands on the site today, retaining the Farmers Arms name.

In 2006 the Farmers Arms closed for a full refurbishment and reopened in 2007 as Penny Street Bridge hotel.

Following another investment and refurb in 2015, it took on the name of the Toll House Inn.

Lancaster City Council will make a decision on whether to grant planning permission in due course. 

The proposals can be found at the Lancaster City Council website planning section, reference number 24/01090/LB.

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