Waggon and Horses’ family-friendly transformation plans revealed

The Waggon and Horses has sat empty on Argyle Street since December but plans to transform it into a family friendly venue have been revealed. SEE WHAT COULD CHANGE >>

A Hobart pub is a hurdle away from getting a new lease on life, with the development application for a new business at the site of Waggon and Horses set to go before the full council on Monday.

The former pub and hotel on Argyle Street shut its doors in December last year, with the previous licensee citing rising costs and changing customer habits as reasons why it needed to shut its doors.

Now it’s hoped the pub can undergo a full transformation, with representatives detailing plans to turn it into a family friendly establishment at the Hobart council’s planning committee meeting on Monday.

Concerns around parking and “anti-social behaviour” at the old establishment were raised during the advertising period.

“We’re very conscious of the representations that have been made to council, we’re also very understanding of why they have been made,” planning consultant acting for the owner Michael Ball said.

The Waggon and Horses Hotel, North Hobart.

Mr Ball said a completely different business model was proposed by the owner.

“They look to target more family dining,” he said.

“To that end you’ll see all the gaming equipment is removed from the hotel and the predominant area is dedicated to sit down dining.”

The previous business operated short term accommodation but under the proposal, the upstairs part of the building would remain vacant.

“If you’d visited the site you’d understand how bad the upstairs part of the hotel is,” Mr Ball told the planning committee.

The business is proposed to operate from 10am til 10pm.

“That provides for the hotel to provide morning coffee, cake, brunches, lunches through til dinner,” Mr Ball said.

The idea of closing earlier was considered.

“I’m wondering if something a little earlier like a closing time earlier on Sunday could be something you feel is suitable, so instead of 10 o clock, closer to 8pm,” planning committee chair Helen Burnet said.

Mr Ball said 8pm would not be appropriate and, noting the owners had planned to close at 10pm instead of 12am on Fridays and Saturdays to minimise the potential impact on nearby residents.

“They’re the times when the hotel was creating the most issues in the surrounding areas,” Mr Ball said.

The development application was passed unanimously by the planning committee and will go before the full council on Monday.