A FAMILY that has run a pub in the centre of Devizes for more than half a century believes plans to create letting rooms and a new kitchen could be its last chance of survival.

The Pelican Inn, in the Market Place, has been run by the Burt family for more than 60 years, but landlady Natalie Burt said unless changes were made soon they could not carry on.

Wadworth has applied for permission to create three rooms at the back of the pub. If the project goes ahead, the brewery company will also spend money on the rest of the premises.

Mrs Burt said: “We desperately need letting rooms and a kitchen big enough for us to do proper food. All I do is turn people away because they are looking for accommodation or for meals.

“Last week, I had someone come in who wanted six rooms, but I had to send them over to the Black Swan. It is soul destroying and I don’t know how much longer we can continue like this.

“People no longer just want drink. We do what we can by having lots of celebrations.

“We had a lovely pink and red theme evening for Valentine’s, but it is not enough.”

Wadworth has applied to convert two outbuilding into three letting rooms and do internal alterations to create a new kitchen.

Marketing director Paul Sullivan confirmed that if plans are approved, the brewery will also look to improve the interior of the pub.

He said: “The Burts are fantastic people and they need us to do something more to support them.

“There is a lot of demand for rooms in Devizes. We would want to create rooms of a good standard that would appeal to professional people in the week and tourists at the weekend.”

Mr Sullivan said the brewery was also hoping to create more rooms at the back of the Black Swan and in the future might work with the landlords of the Moonrakers in Nursteed Road to improve the rooms above the newly refurbished pub and eatery.