A town centre pub is set to reopen with a new lease of life. 

A proposal to renovate and extend The George, on Bondgate in Darlington, has been submitted to the local authority as part of a bid to reopen the venue. 

The pub was forced to close in August 2022 after its licensee handed back control of the historic venue to the owner due to financial costs and the physical toll of running it.

After six months of ownership, the owners posted an emotional statement stating the reasons behind the closure. They thanked all the loyal customers of the pub – but said the physical and mental drain, alongside the financial impact, was behind the decision to hand the pub back to its owners.

The post read: “Sadly this week, I've had to make the decision to close The George and hand it back to Admiral Taverns.

“I’d like to thank everyone that came and supported not only myself, the pub, and the fantastic Pat and her dinner over the last six months, but unfortunately it wasn’t financially viable.

The Northern Echo: How the front of the pub could look, if a proposal to renovate the venue is approved How the front of the pub could look, if a proposal to renovate the venue is approved (Image: Admiral Taverns)

Initial designs submitted as part of the planning application show how the facade could be painted grey, with new signage and lettering on the building - an update which the developer says is needed due to its “poor condition”. 

Inside the pub, there is a hope the old kitchen area can be converted into more space for customers. “The proposed scheme is to update the decoration, add new fixed seating and to give a warmer design feel using wallpaper, paint colours and floor finishes,” a design statement adds.

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A new bar would also be installed, if approved. Hotel rooms on the first and second floor would also be renovated. 

The application is led by Admiral Taverns, a pub group which owns the venue. 

The pub was previously forced to close after its license was suspended by Darlington Borough council. A street brawl between armed rival football fans saw masked men carrying bottles, snooker balls and cues from the pub. The fracas erupted on Skinnergate just after 12 noon on Saturday, February 12 when Darlington were about to play Chester.