A VILLAGE pub which has bounced back from closure twice in the last decade is facing another battle for survival, its landlord has warned.

Andy Watt has re-established the Crown, at Catton, as a thriving drinking hole and eatery for the local community since taking over in 2014.

But Mr Watt fears that if plans to build a bungalow and garage in a field opposite the pub go ahead, its setting as a picturesque destination pub for tourists will be ruined.

He said: “Local people support the pub, but this is a small community, so to survive, we rely 100 per cent on income from visitors who come here for food.

“Building a property over the road would block out what is a wonderful view from the pub. It’s a unique selling point.

“I can’t object simply because we are losing a countryside view, but I intend to claim a loss of visible amenities for the business.

“If this proposed development goes ahead, I fear it will deter visitors and threaten the viability of the Crown.”

The planning application, submitted by John Oliver, is for change of use to grazing land north of Meadow Gate, to extend the site’s residential curtilage.

When approached by the Courant this week, a representative of the applicant refused to comment.

At the time of going to press, nine letters of objection had been submitted.

The Crown Inn closed back in 1999, but subsequent attempts by former owner Paul Murphy to turn it into a private house failed to materialise.

Following a community campaign, it was re-opened in 2008 by Jim Hick, who turned around the pub’s fortunes.

The Crown closed once again in July 2013 after Mr Hick struggled to sell the business.

But it was given a new lease of life in March 2014, when Mr Watt, an experienced publican, took over.

In January 2016, Mr Watt doubled his Allen Valleys investment by taking on the butcher’s shop in Allendale’s Market Square.