OWNERS of a historic former Weymouth pub are hoping that a planning loophole will prevent enforcement action from being taken over works to change part of the building into homes. The former Swan Inn, number 567 Dorchester Road, ceased trading around 2004 and changed hands two years later. Planning permission was granted for the Upwey listed building to be converted into a family home in 2007, but expired after works did not get under way - which the owners say is due to the financial crash at the time. However, part of the building has been occupied by the owner and her family since then, with nominal work being carried out to convert an annex into a three bed house, a three bedroomed flat and a one bedroomed flat, to enable rooms to be rented to tenants.
We then moved on to recall pint-sized pub the Burdon Tap in Weymouth. It was a delight to hear from Mrs Heather Byfleet, who wrote to Looking Back as her paternal grandparents were licensees of the Burdon Tap from 1928 to 1941. She also shared with us another picture of this wonderful little pub, which was in Victoria Street opposite the rear of the Burdon Hotel (now the Prince Regent). Mrs Byfleet, a Weymouth resident of 90 years, tells us: My grandmother managed the Tap from 1937 to 1941 on her own, after my grandfather Harry E. Hawkins died. Grandmas was Mrs Eva Hawkins - from a Weymouth family.