Suffolk: Ex-landlady on plans for Great Cornard pub

Wendy Mezni had been the landlady of the Five Bells in Great Cornard, near Sudbury, for 16 years before it closed down in September. 

Speaking about the planning application that has been submitted to Babergh District Council, Mrs Mezni said that she was concerned about the future of the building, but the developers had said they would not be knocking the building down. 

Wendy Mezni the former Landlady of the Five Bells. Picture: Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

Mrs Mezni said: "It's not going to be a pub anymore. That is 100pc certain, and, rather than having it derelict, the exisiting building should be used. 

"The pub is lost. There is no way it will be coming back as a pub. It would be left derelict for months and years.

"I would not have left it if would remain a pub. I would still be there now."

Mrs Mezni held many events at the pub during her time as landlady.

One of the most popular was the beer festival in 2013. 

According to the design and access statement submitted with the application, two two-bedroom homes and one three-bedroom home will be built, if granted permission. 

The Five Bells in Great Cornard could be converted into three homes. Picture: Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

The pub has been boarded up for the last couple of months and the sign has been taken down above the door. 

David Clarkson, who is the agent for the applicants 20 Gainsborugh Ltd, said the building would not be knocked down. 

He added: "We will keep the facade the same and the street scene the same. 

"The place was in quite a considerable state of disrepair so we will be bringing the building back up to modern standards."

Plans were revealed in 2020 to build four bungalows behind the Bures Road boozer. 

Works on the four homes has already begun.