A BID to split off the manager’s flat above a historic Wiltshire pub has been thrown out by planners amid fears it could spell the end for a much-loved village landmark.

The application sought retrospective consent to turn the first-floor flat at The Bell Inn in Winterbourne Stoke into separate accommodation.

But Wiltshire Council has refused permission, citing concerns over the long-term survival of the pub, which was listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) last year.

The Bell Inn, believed to date back to around 1850, began life as a coaching inn on the busy A303.

Its nomination for ACV status, approved in July 2025, described it as the “only building in the village (apart from the church) where villagers can hold social functions such as birthday celebrations, funeral wakes, pub quiz’s, bingo, and many other functions”.

The pub closed in November 2024, but no application has been submitted to change its overall use.

Planning officers said that closure “does not mean that it will not be possible to reopen, for example with new management or owners”, and stressed that retaining on-site accommodation is key to that prospect.

In a decision notice, Nic Thomas, director of planning, economy and regeneration, said: “The loss of the manager’s flat above The Bell Inn would remove essential on-site accommodation necessary for the effective operation and long-term viability of the public house.

“No evidence has been provided to demonstrate that the facility is no longer required or that its loss would not harm the pub’s functioning.”

The council also raised concerns that a separate flat above a working pub would face “unacceptable noise and disturbance”, potentially leading to future restrictions on the business.

Winterbourne Stoke Parish Council had unanimously objected, warning that without accommodation for a prospective manager “the likelihood of this re-opening as a village pub is very unlikely”.

Resident Ian West also opposed the plans, saying: “Separating the first-floor flat accommodation from the pub on the ground floor would make it exceedingly difficult for the pub to get a middle to long term lease.”

Highways officers additionally questioned parking arrangements and the absence of a full parking plan.

For now, residents hoping to see pints pulled again at The Bell Inn will see the refusal as a lifeline – and a signal that its future as a village pub is not yet lost.