Manager of a Durham pub hits out after being ordered to take down an ‘unauthorised’ sign

The Kingslodge Inn in Flass Vale have been ordered to take down an “unauthorised” sign which is located on the Durham C.I.U headquarters building on Flass Street.

Management at the pub claim that they have the full permission of the building’s owners to have the sign – which directs people to the inn with an arrow – in place.

General manager of The Kingslodge Inn, Darren Winder, has hit out at Durham County Council’s decision to order the sign to be removed.

Mr Winder said: “It seems particularly cruel that instead of helping support a local business to reopen after the crippling effects of months of lockdown and trading restrictions, Durham County Council is twisting the knife even further by forcing us to remove essential signage to our inn that we have consent to display.

“After being closed for so many months, we are reliant on customer footfall now more than ever before.

“We’ve had a sign on the side of the Durham C.I.U, with their kind permission, for over six years to help point people find us.

“Instead of getting behind a local business doing its best to get back on its feet in a sector hit the hardest by the pandemic, Durham County Council is doing the exact opposite.

"We were all so excited about opening again after all this time, and the council has really knocked the wind out of us.”

Stephen Reed, Durham County Council’s planning development manager, commented: “Following the receipt of a complaint, planning enforcement officers identified unauthorised signage at the C.I.U Building on Flass Street and wrote to the parties involved to request the removal of advertisement for The Kingslodge Inn.

“We fully understand the desire to advertise business more broadly in the locality, particularly during the present pandemic, however this does need to be balanced with protecting the historic environment of the city and as a council we must seek to ensure that all businesses comply with legislation laid down by government in this area.

“We have since had subsequent communication with The Kingslodge Inn, who have confirmed they will be submitting an application for the sign’s retention, and we will work with them during this process.”

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