Historic former pub in Ashfield set for new lease of life as education centre

The historic Masons Arms, on the corner of Unwin Road and Coxmoor Road in Sutton, was a thriving community pub that dated back to the 1800s. But in the summer of 2018, it closed and the distinctive building was put up for sale.

Briefly, it traded as Natalie’s Bottles and Bits, a ‘biker cafe’ selling bottled craft beers. But by 2020, planning permission had been granted to convert the property into a residential house.

Now a fresh planning application has been submitted to Ashfield District Council to turn the former Masons Arms into an ‘educational facility’ to help youngsters unable or unwilling to attend mainstream schools.

The application has been lodged by Brett and Leanne Crouch, directors of the highly respected property development company, Mansfield Prestige Joinery Ltd, who are the current owners of the Unwin Road building.

However, the company behind the project is Keyline Care, a Hucknall-based form that specialises in “supporting children, young people and adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs, complex behaviours and physical or sensory disabilities”.

Keyline’s website says: “Our focus is simple: helping every individual live as independently as possible while feeling safe, respected and valued.

"We provide high-quality, person-centred care and education that is tailored to each person’s needs, abilities, and goals.”

Earlier this year, Keyline announced plans to open multiple homes across the East Midlands to expand its therapeutic education services for children.

Therapeutic education integrates emotional and psychological support into traditional learning. Keyline says: “Every child deserves a home that understands them, supports them and offers the foundations for long-term healing and growth.

“We provide a therapeutic pathway for children who deserve a future built on safety, stability and possibility.”

According to planning papers, the Unwin Road facility would cater for five students on site at any one time, with five full-time staff members providing one-to-one tuition. It would open from 9 am to 5 pm Mondays to Fridays.

The two-storey building is currently a five-bedroom house. Drawings show that if the plan gets the go-ahead, the ground floor would contain a reception area, staff office, communal lounge, food preparation area, sensory or chill-out room, games room, hallway and toilets.

The first floor would contain two classrooms, a tutorial one-to-one room, music room, library and IT suite, media room, kitchen, landing and toilets.

The agents for the scheme are the Stapleford-based firm, McKenzie Tilson Architecture, whose planning statement says: “The external design and scale of the building would not change.

"Fences and gates would be added to ensure the safety of staff and children. The existing access via Coxmoor Road would be retained and used by staff and visitors.

"Pupils would be dropped off on the service road off Unwin Road at the front of the building.

"In conclusion, we believe the proposal is appropriate to the area and would provide a safe and happy environment for the students to learn.”

The council’s planning officers are currently considering the proposal and hope to make a decision or recommendation by their deadline date of Monday, August 3.

According to historian Heather Faulkes, the Masons Arms was first recorded as a beer house in 1822, although it is believed that parts of the building are 400 years old.

One of its first occupiers, Edward Parkes, was “fined on multiple occasions for keeping his house open for the sale of beer outside the permitted hours”.

Its name became permanent in 1858 and the pub was later bought by the Nottingham Brewery Company, which ran it until a takeover of the firm by Tennant Brothers Brewery, of Sheffield, in 1944.

Tennant was later acquired by Whitbread Brewery, which was in charge until 1996 when the Masons was transferred to Trent Taverns Ltd and then Punch Taverns Ltd.

Heather says it was bought and modernised by Ralph and Jocelyn Gold in 2007, but went on the market 11 years later.

THE details of many planning applications can be found in public notices advertised by local and regional newspapers. To catch up on all the latest public notices, go to https://publicnoticeportal.uk/