Plans to create an outdoor seating area and smoking shelter in a village pub have been refused. 

Earlier this year, Greene King submitted an application to Babergh District Council for its Kings Head pub in Great Cornard, near Sudbury. 

Greene King had hoped that the Bures Road venue would have retained its smoking shelter outside the back doors to the pub along with a covered drinking area for customers to enjoy throughout the year.

The covered seating area was originally put up in the car park during Covid lockdowns to enable the pub to continue trading under social distancing restrictions.

Since then, it has been moved to the area between the pub buildings and yard behind.

In a letter to Greene King outlining the refusal, Babergh District Council said: "The proposed covered drinking area and smoking area to the rear of the property is considered to be of a poor quality design which does not reflect the prominence of the Grade II listed building and as such would appear out of character with the site and surrounding area including the wider landscape."

The venue also has outside seating to the front of the pub.