Antique centre gets extension at old Bridge Sollars pub, near Hereford

The former antiques centre in Bridge Sollars, west of Hereford, has been given a new lease of life as Craig Timothy and Michael Birch launch their new homewares and coffee shop.

The old Lord Nelson Antiques centre is now home to more contemporary artefacts, as the couple presents a carefully curated selection of accessories, kitchenware, soft furnishings.

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Completing the transformation is the increasingly popular coffee shop, ensuring that the new Timothy and Birch Store is quickly becoming a go-to destination.

And now Herefordshire Council has granted planning permission for a new entrance and oak framed porch at the building, which used to be the Lord Nelson Inn.

When the pandemic hit, the pair were working in Germany, where they had lived for seven years, but as Mr Timothy said: "We knew that we would have to commit to Germany for a long time or do something different."

The Timothy & Birch shop offers a wide range of distinctive homeware. Picture: Rob Davies

Opting for something different turned out to be a return to Mr Birch's home county of Herefordshire (his parents still live in Bartestree), where they started looking for old pubs – "because they have kitchens, lots of room, parking and accommodation."

Having bought the Old Nelson in April last year, the pair did all the work themselves and opened on Christmas Eve.

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In addition to The Lounge, currently serving coffee, cakes and Rowlestone ice-cream, but with plans to expand into light lunches, Timothy and Birch stocks a wide range of home accessories, vases, cushions, lighting and bathroom accessories as well as "a beautiful range of home fragrances, stationery, cards and gifts".

Mr Timothy said: "So far, the reaction has been fantastic. It has exceeded our expectations and we've done it all ourselves, without borrowing anything."

Planning officer Matthew Neilson said the new extension would not represent any demonstrable impact upon the amenity or privacy of neighbouring properties.

He said it also wouldn't result in any harm to the character of the host building nor the setting or that of the wider landscape

Timothy and Birch can be found on the A438 in Bridge Sollars.