Newark's Belam's Bar and Bistro rebrands to White Hind Bar and goes from cream to blue

A row has erupted over the colour that a Newark pub has been painted.

What was Belam's Bar and Bistro on the corner of Cartergate and Baldertongate, has reverted to the White Hind Bar and, as part of the re-brand, has been painted blue from a drab cream.

However, the pub is in the Newark town centre conservation area and a listed building.

Leaseholder Richard Belam, who must paint the pub every three years as part of his contract, has been told he must submit a retrospective planning application to the district council, which will likely be objected to.

The White Hind was closed in 2001 and was derelict and empty until Mr Belam took on a ten-year lease in January 2010.

Mr Belam said: As you can imagine the property was in a very bad state of repair due to having squatters living in there and some severe water leaks.

"After four months of blood, sweat, tears and a lot of help from good friends we proudly opened Belam's Bar and Bistro in April 2010 and served a variety of homemade food and a wide choice of draught beers.

"We also provide a variety of entertainment including discos, karaoke and live singers.

"Business was good and we renewed our lease in 2016 for another ten years.

"Up until last year the business was doing well, but unfortunately the trade levels in and around Newark dropped substantially due to the lack of people visiting the town because of the constant traffic jams and gridlock caused by local water works."

Mr Belam said it was a final roll of the dice to try and save the business through a re-branding.

"We gave it a fresh new look by re-painting all the exterior walls and introducing a carvery to our menu," said Mr Belam, who painted the pub himself with the help of a friend and a scissor lift.

"The vast majority of people who have commented on the colour scheme approve, but the council don't.

"If listed buildings are such a necessity in Newark, why have they let the Robin Hood Hotel get in such a state?

"The council is insisting the pub be a more muted boring colour such as cream.

"I don't see the harm, and I'd be interested to hear what the wider public think."

The White Hind is a Grade II listed building that dates back to the late 18th century.

As a listed building it has been found to be of national significance.

Listed Building Consent is required for any works that affect the special architectural or historic significance of the building.

In its letter to Mr Belam, the council wrote: "As the new paint colour has dramatically changed the external appearance of the building and altered its architectural interest it has triggered the threshold for needing Listed Building Consent.

"While I appreciate the selected shade is not a neon or bright shade, it is a rich dark blue which now makes the building rather incongruous and imposing.

"The use of a paler shade on the top storey is also unusual and serves to divide the façade horizontally, visually speaking.

"While there is nothing inherently unattractive about the blue shade, its use in this context and over such a large area is out of character and imposing.

"The style of this listed building is one seen reflected throughout the town in attractive rows of Georgian town houses and this consistency gives the town a strong local character, which is a positive feature of Newark.

"It is for these reasons that I think the deep blue shade is inappropriate and if an application was made to retain this shade is likely to get an officer recommendation for refusal."

Matt Lamb, business manager for planning development at the council, told the Advertiser: “Belam’s Bar and Bistro is in a listed building and the newly painted colour is not in keeping with the colours normally permitted within the Conservation Area.

"We are committed to preserving and maintaining the town’s heritage so we are working with the establishment to agree a new colour scheme.”