A CLOSED Herefordshire pub being marketed as an AirBnB despite being refused a change of use is now up for auction.

The Lamb Inn pub, which ceased trading in 2018, was refused planning permission for a change of use, with Herefordshire Council hearing that there was insufficient evidence that the community facility was not a viable business and could not continue to meet community needs, as it had not been marketed appropriately.

A planning inspector also refused to overturn Herefordshire Council's decision at appeal.

ALSO READ:

But despite this, the pub in Stoke Prior, near Leominster, has since been marketed as a holiday let and remains available to book on websites including AirBnB and Sykes Cottages.

The pub has been up for sale with agents Christie & Co with an asking price of £630,000 and a forecast income as a holiday let of £80,000 per annum for some time.

Christie & Co describe the building as a "former public house", which the current owners have "repositioned as a highly attractive holiday let", although they do make reference to the fact that it has not been granted a change of use, telling prospective purchasers that "the owners are processing a change of use application".

But now it has been listed for online auction with auctioneers Pattinson Commercial with a starting bid of £540,000 and, as of March 20, 27 days to go.

What are your thoughts?

You can send a letter to the editor to have your say by clicking here.

Letters should not exceed 250 words and local issues take precedence.

The auctioneers said the property is "part commercial" and "part residential" and includes a "public house and premises", with six-bedroom accommodation.

Its appearance on the auction site comes hot on the heels of Herefordshire Council confirming earlier this month that an investigation into the closed pub is ongoing.

The council said in June last year that an investigation was underway into an alleged planning breach and that they believed a retrospective application was being considered. However, no application for a change of use has since appeared on Herefordshire Council's planning portal.