A HOTEL and restaurant will try to combat the problem of the bed and breakfast regularly being fully booked by building additional bedrooms.

Plans submitted to Herefordshire Council show the owners of The Lion at Leintwardine have applied to construct a new single story building on the banks of the river Teme.

The development would add five rooms, each with a timber balcony with glass balustrading, to the current eight, which are regularly fully booked.

The design and access statement said: “This application seeks to increase the scope of guest accommodation on the basis that the existing eight guest bedrooms are at full capacity and potential custom is being turned away on a regular basis.

“From the car park the building presents a single storey with centrally located entrance under a pitched roof porch.

“At the rear, due to the fall in levels, the structure is taller, and the under-croft left open for flood storage.”

To address flooding concerns, two geocellular tank options have been presented to manage surface water effectively on the site.

Comments on application 194105 can be made until January 12, with a decision expected by January 22.

Applicants Mr & Mrs W Watkins bought the pub in 2009 and saw the river peak at a record 2.33 metres on November 15 this year, but flooding was avoided.