MAJOR work is planned at a grade II listed pub in Ludlow before it changes to a national pizza restaurant.

The scheme is detailed in a planning application for the change of ‘The Marches’ to a PizzaExpress restaurant.

Built in the 19th century the pub, that used to be ‘The George’, is a prominent three storey building that has undergone a number of changes since its opening.

It will retain the walled rear garden as well as entrances from the rear, side and front in Castle Street.

The proposed works internally are to make alterations to provide additional seating areas to the first floor, improve the toilet facilities for the public, provide facilities for the staff and manager, improve the kitchen facilities, and fire escape routes.

Existing ceilings and some wall panelling will be retained.

The actual cooking is part of the theatre of a PizzaExpress restaurant and the cooking area will take centre stage in the design.

This is formed of a large marble counter finished with timber along the front of the counter and ceramic tiles to the rear wall.

The cooking process will be visible to the customer on the ground floor.

The customer seating will be a mixture of fixed banquette and booth seating which will be upholstered in leather.

Dining tables will have carrera marble tops on a black metal base.

The existing underground drainage will be re-used where required and there will be no new underground drainage connections.

All above ground waste pipe work and connections will be new. The existing waste pipe work will be removed. Existing holes and openings will be utilised wherever possible to run new drainage.

The external windows and doors are to be retained and painted.

But there may be minor remedial works required to some of the existing windows.

According to the application the impact of the proposal on the internal fabric of the building has been kept to a minimum by altering the more modern additions to the building and re-using holes cut into the original fabric previously.

It says external changes have been kept to redecorating the frontage in a sympathetic way so as to maintain the character of the building.