Kempsey’s historic pub, The Talbot, has been granted planning permission to rebuild part of its beer garden wall – after the original quietly gave up and collapsed.
Before rumours start: this was not the result of an over-enthusiastic Friday night, a stray tractor, or someone leaning back on two legs after one pint too many. The culprit, according to planning documents, was far less exciting: ivy, tree roots, and the slow, patient passage of time.
The wall, which had stood faithfully for years, finally lost its battle with nature and came down earlier this year. Thankfully, no one was hurt – apart from the wall’s pride – and the pub moved quickly to fence off the area and apply for permission to rebuild.
Wychavon District Council has now approved the plans, allowing the wall to be reconstructed in brick to match the original. In short: same wall, just less “held together by hope and foliage”.
For regulars, this means the beer garden will soon be back to normal – minus the unexpected open-plan landscaping feature. For the ivy, sadly, it’s the end of the road.
So if you’ve noticed a bit more sky where there used to be bricks, rest easy: the wall will rise again. Probably stronger. Definitely less leafy. And hopefully withstanding at least a few more Kempsey winters… and summers.
