I had a root around the company accounts to see if there was any indication of distress. Although Wren Pubs Ltd has negative shareholder funds — this seems to relate to money spent on the purchasing of the freehold of the Carpenter's Arms and another pub and is money lent to the company by the owner and director Jack Greenall.
A major refurbishment including the addition of the first floor to the pub does make sense in the light of the purchase of the freehold which was probably necessary to make such major changes. It does seem odd that someone seems to have told Google that the closure is permanent and that they haven't issued a statement about the plans which could mean they are more an ambition rather than a firm scheme at this point.
As the Station House situation, and probably soon the Hole in the Wall, shows, it takes a long time to convert a pub to residential and I would have thought, if that was the plan, Wren Pubs would have sold the site rather than risk the reputational damage of shutting a well liked neighbourhood pub.
Andrew OSullivan ● 3d