A FORMER hair salon in Chard could soon be welcoming people in for a pint.

A planning application, by The Somerset Inn, has been submitted to change the use of 40 Fore Street from a salon to a ‘micro pub’.

A micro-pub is a one-room venue offering alcoholic drinks and snacks.

“The application has been produced following careful consideration of the property, the business, the town and its neighbours,” it said. “As such, we’re confident that this application offers a novel concept which adds to the local amenity and the tapestry of Chard life.”

Explaining the definition of a mico-pub as a ‘very small, modern, one-room pub, serving no food other than snacks, and based upon good ale and conversation’, the plan added: “However, in this case, rather than solely ale, the intention is to create a space – given its geography – that champions cider and local cider producers.”

It said micro-pubs “traditionally shun electronic entertainment, so no TVs or live sport, no Jukeboxes, no fruit machines”, although the Chard venue would “enjoy some low level background music, appropriate for the space and the setting”.

Bar skittles, shove ha’penny and board games would also be on offer, the plan said, with furniture provided from a former Chard pub.

The décor would “celebrate the history of Chard pubs from a bygone era”, including “barrel-style furniture” in a “nod to Somerset’s proud cider-making history”.

Toilets would be brought up to a modern standard at the listed property, the application said, with signage put in place.

“The name of the intended micro-pub is the Somerset Inn Micropub – fitting as the building in question is called Somerset House with signage above the door,” it added.

For more details, and to comment on the scheme, log on to somerset.gov.uk and search application reference 24/02770/COU.