PLANS have been submitted to modernise The Bush Hotel – seeking to retain the iconic Farnham institution’s “unique historic character” while making it “suitable for the future”.If approved by Waverley Borough Council, this work will include building 32 new bedrooms, modernising existing bedrooms, improving infrastructure and accessibility, creating event space in a garden setting and bringing the hotel’s historic courtyard off The Borough back to life.The hotel’s new owners, led by local businessman John Chesterman, say the multi-million pound investment “is a long-term commitment and vote of confidence in Farnham, creating additional jobs and business opportunities”. Some of this investment – modernising the bedrooms in particular – started last year, as well as successfully opening up the courtyard as a winter terrace for locals. The Bush Hotel has been welcoming guests since the 17th century and the current owners add they “have a vision to retain this unique history while ensuring it is a vibrant, modern hotel befitting its place at the heart of Farnham”.To view and comment on the plans, search for reference WA/2020/1984 online at www.waverley.gov.uk/planningHoping to help the community understand the reasons behind the decision to re-vamp the hotel, director of The Bush Hotel, John Chesterman, penned an open letter:Since we bought The Bush Hotel in 2018, we have loved hearing the stories from several generations of Farnham residents of the seemingly many colourful parties and special occasions that have been hosted here.

It is, however, fair to say a good deal of these stories hark back a decade or two. The hotel has previously been owned by various corporations as part of a large London-based portfolio. As so often happens in these circumstances, charming, individual hotels like The Bush can suffer from under-investment. ??

As the new custodians, we have a simple vision to return The Bush to its former glory. The hotel has been welcoming guests since 1618 and has witnessed the town change and grow around it over the centuries.

Given this rich history and its place in Farnham’s heart, we want to restore the Bush to being the natural hub for locals and visitors.

Our planning application seeks to bring this vision to reality. We want to retain The Bush’s unique history while ensuring it is a modern, vibrant, boutique hotel fit for the future. We have developed these plans with feedback from Waverley and Farnham councils, the Farnham Society, our neighbours and through a public consultation. This feedback has helped shape our plans and strike the balance of preserving the past while imagining the hotel’s future.

To complement our recently-completed refurbishment of the existing bedrooms, the submitted plans propose brand-new beautifully-designed bedrooms that have all the added extras that guests expect and deserve; a versatile event space, set in our re-landscaped RHS Wisley standard gardens, that has the style and functionality to host everything from a meeting to a wedding; and a re-imagining of our historic courtyard into a contemporary, covered outdoor dining and bar space.

Clearly the past year has been difficult for us all and has created challenging trading conditions for many Farnham businesses. It also obviously creates obstacles in starting a major renovation work, but we believe that these plans, are the first step in rebuilding for the future.

This project would be a significant investment in Farnham, creating jobs, business opportunities and attracting visitors and tourists to the local area.

But more importantly, it would give us the opportunity to reconnect The Bush with the local community, making it once again a home for special occasions and a place where future generations can make memories.