Brewery vows to keep the Three Cups Hotel (From Dorset Echo)

Brewery vows to keep the Three Cups Hotel

PALMERS Brewery said it will not sell Lyme’s Three Cups Hotel ‘under any circumstances’ amid growing pressure from within the town to take action over the derelict building.

Campaign leader John Dover inside the Three Cups

The Bridport-based brewery has also revealed this week it is still considering turning the empty hotel into a mixture of apartments, a restaurant and retail units.

The Three Cups Hotel closed down almost 20 years ago and pressure was stepped up last year to bring the run-down building back into use.

Palmers recently ruled out turning the Three Cups back into a hotel after commissioning an independent report into its viability.

There have been calls in the town for the building to be sold and eventually turned back into a hotel, and last week it was suggested by town councillors than an official town referendum should be held.

Redevelopment plans for the controversial Broad Street building are now expected to be announced in the summer, according to brewery boss John Palmer. It comes as the pressure group in Lyme has decided to take a ‘step back’ from talks with Palmers.

Three members of the Save the Three Cups as a Hotel Group, led by chairman John Dover, met Mr Palmer last Thursday as part of the ongoing consultation process with the community.

Mr Palmer said: “The discussions were positive and amicable.

“I’m very pleased to be working with the community to build an economically viable future for the site that benefits Lyme Regis.”

Mr Dover said: “It is clear that Palmers have no appetite for the hotel option based on a lack of return on their investment, but Mr Palmer did not rule out a ‘mixed use’ option which would provide additional bed spaces for the town.”

Mr Palmer said the ‘mixed use’ solution would feature residential accommodation with a restaurant and retail units.

The brewery boss also said that finance was available but it would be the return on investment that would influence any decision.

Mr Dover added: “Mr Palmer told us he was committed to Lyme Regis on a long-term basis and would not be prepared to sell the Three Cups under any circumstances.

“It was also emphasised that at the moment the brewery has no specific proposals and anything – other than a hotel – is up for grabs.”

Mr Dover said his group’s only instructions were to fight for its reopening as a hotel.

“Because of this, until we know what alternative proposals are being put forward, I propose we step back from the consultation process and continue to influence and input through our elected representatives,” said Mr Dover.

But he said there is no question of them giving up.

“This leaves us to act as the ‘public conscience’, free to comment independently and to develop relationships with any seriously-interested hoteliers,” said Mr Dover.

He said the best time to call a public meeting would be when a redevelopment scheme is announced.

“This would also be a good opportunity for the people of Lyme Regis to have their say through a referendum,” he said.

Earlier last week, Mr Palmer and his representatives also attended a meeting of a working party of town and district councillors and West Dorset planning officers at Lyme Regis Guildhall.

Mr Palmer said: “We’re listening to what everyone has to say and we hope to produce some outline proposals for discussion and consultation in the summer, before moving on to a planning application.”