Pub eyes expansion with virtual games and snooker rooms

Friday, 2 October 2026 14:36

By Bradley Gerrard, Local Democracy Reporter

(Image courtesy: Bradley Gerrard)

A pub in a Devon seaside town is eyeing an expansion that would see it include a virtual games room as well as a snooker hall.

The York Inn, on the town’s Imperial Road, wants to build an extension so it can house a new snooker hall, as well as a virtual games room.
The plans, submitted to East Devon District Council, would see an extension built on top of an existing flat roof, ground floor projection, to create an additional two-storeys, including roof space, with a “characteristic pitch roof dormer” facing onto nearby Manchester Street.
Access to the proposed new games and pool rooms would be through the pub, with the first floor hosting the snooker room, and the second one the virtual sports games. These would be available to customers and for pre-booked parties.
The planning documents suggest that rear flat-roof balconies would be maintained for accommodation guests.
Expansion of the pub could be seen as good news for the town, after some closures there last year, including Harley’s Bar & Grill, The Heavitree and Spoken, and this year’s closures, including The Phoenix.
The York Inn is well-known for its live music, with bands frequently playing, and is open in peak season until 2am at the weekend. The venue has just announced its winter opening hours, though, which means it will close at 1am instead on Friday and Saturday nights.
It’s not yet clear whether the plans will go before East Devon District Council’s planning committee, or be decided by officers under what is known as a ‘delegated decision’.
 

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