A BREWERY has launched a petition to relax a planning condition that would allow a popular Liversedge pub to reopen.

The Brewhouse, on Halifax Road, shut this week when an enforcement notice was served by Kirklees Council requiring the pub to clear a beer garden in its car park.

Mill Valley Brewery, which owns the pub, has since lodged a planning application to request the removal of the planning condition and the beer garden to be reinstated.

Brewhouse landlord Steve Hemingway, who called the planning condition onerous, said: "We've had over 1,500 people sign the petition in 24 hours, so a lot of people are supporting us. We're backed by MPs, CAMRA groups and the majority of our customers and neighbours.

"We've had this pub for three years and we were doing well before Covid. We spent a lot of money and obviously survived Covid but this planning condition has forced us to close.

"We had 26 people sitting out in the garden over the weekend, and then on Monday I had to remove all the beer garden furniture.

"I can't put tables and chairs in the car park anymore. We've had three beer festivals on it but now it's all changed.

"The pub is small and seats no more than 30 people and not everybody wants to sit shoulder to shoulder anymore. I can't afford to run it and we can't survive without outdoor seating.

"I've had to shut down the business, let go of staff and let suppliers know they are no longer needed."

David Shepherd, Strategic Director for Growth & Regeneration at Kirklees Council, said: “The Brew House pub in Liversedge had a breach on one of the conditions of their planning permission, which relates to using parking areas as additional outdoor seating space. This has caused noise and disturbance, and resulted in complaints.

“A representative of the Brew House pub has now confirmed that the area has been reverted back to a car park, which means the establishment can operate within its lawful permission should it choose to reopen.

“To support hospitality businesses to reopen safely following Covid-19 lockdown measures, the government introduced planning changes to give greater flexibility for outdoor dining and drinking.

“It meant that land could be used, without the need for a planning application, to set up marquees or outdoor seating for example.

“These temporary national rules expired on December 31, 2021, and now planning permission would be needed.”

The pub if a former working men's club, established in 1928, but is now a micro brewery owned by Mill Valley Brewery, which started up seven years. The brewery also operates the nearby Mill Valley Taproom.