Fox and Hounds pub in Weasenham to be turned into home

Breckland Council has granted permission for the Fox and Hounds in Weasenham, near Fakenham, to be turned into a home. 

The pub closed four years ago and a previous attempt to transform the building was refused due to fears about the loss of a community facility.

However, the council has since conceded that nobody is willing to take on the venue - meaning its doors have already closed for the final time. 

The decision has been unpopular with some locals, who will now have to travel three miles to reach their nearest pub. 

Weasenham, near Fakenham (Image: Denise Bradley)

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Glynn Burrows, who lives close to Weasenham, said: "This is a village pub and is also on a main coast road, so could be a viable business again if it were to be run as such.

"There are no other services in the village and the permanent loss of the pub would be the nail in the coffin for any sense of community.

"The pub could easily be turned into a cafe, shop and bar, making it a real asset."

The Fox and Hounds pub dates back 300 years but closed down in 2020 following the death of Danny Enifer, the landlord. 

Danny and Carol Enifer ran the pub for 22 years (Image: Supplied)

Several local people wrote to the council to express their support for his wife, Carol Enifer, who applied to turn the building into a house. 

Derek Wylde, who lives in the village, said: "The pub only remained open because of the support given by the owners from their personal savings.

"High costs of energy and labour do not make running this type of business an attractive proposition - anyone who thinks this is viable does not appreciate the difficulties faced by rural pubs.

"Nobody wants to see a boarded up pub in their village and the building is now much more likely to secure a buyer and be given a new lease of life."