A village pub has won its planning battle with Warwick District Council to keep and make further external improvements.

The Three Horseshoes on Spring Hill, Bubbenhall, asked for retrospective permission to keep two gazebos at the front of the pub and to go ahead with a planned patio extension and disability ramp.

District planning officers – the council's employed professionals – advised councillors in January that it would represent too much change in a conservation and green belt area, while Warwickshire County Council's highways department were unhappy at the prospect of eating into the access to the pub's car park on safety grounds.

Publican Ashleigh Spence was backed by 70 supporters including Bubbenhall Parish Council and county councillor Ben Edwards and while councillors grilled officers for more than half an hour, they were steadfast in saying the evidence provided was not enough to overcome planning reasons for refusal.

Mr Edwards was even admonished by legal officer Nigel Bell for suggesting that district councillors should disregard the advice of county highways, something Mr Bell described as "quite an irresponsible comment".

With the panel reluctant to go against the public's wishes, members of the public and press were shut out for 20 minutes with councillors then saying no in a split vote – six backing the rejection, two voting against it and two councillors choosing not to vote either way.

Applicants unhappy with planning outcomes have the right to appeal to a national inspector and on July 13, 2026, the call was overturned.

Inspector Andrew Boughton found that the extent of the development would not be inappropriate in the green belt and that "subject to the detailing", the character and appearance of the local conservation area "would be preserved".

He also ruled "there would be no harm to public safety with regard to the use of the car park".

Mr Boughton wrote: "The public house has clearly been in existence with its car park for many years and I note the witness statement by the appellant as to the lack of problems with parking by customers including off-site parking.

"These comments align with my own observations that the roads are speed-limited, lightly-trafficked with good visibility and width.

"The quiet nature of the roads involved and low vehicle speeds present little risk to manoeuvres that might arise in entering and leaving the car park. I consider there are opportunities both to safely park on nearby roads and to manoeuvre within the depth of the site sufficient to address any likely problems."

Mr Edwards heralded the decision as a victory for common sense.

"I am delighted for Ashleigh and the Three Horseshoes," he said.

"The gazebos have enhanced the pub and this matter should never have reached appeal.

"Elected members at parish, district and county level consistently supported this application, as did many local residents. Had those views been given greater weight, the council might have avoided an appeal.

"As for my 'irresponsible' comments, it would appear that the planning inspector agreed with my assessment rather more than that of the officer who criticised them. I remain happy to receive an apology."

Warwick District Council has been approached for comment.