The Big Gun: Sheffield pub that served pints for over 200 years could become shops with HMO on top floors
‘A nice pub for nice people’ may well become shops in the near future as two centuries of history are brought to a close.
In September 2023, after 233 years of continuous flowing beer, the Big Gun closed its doors for the last time.
The Big Gun, which dates back to 1790, was the last boozer on the Wicker and famous for a sign which states: ‘A nice pub for nice people’.
At the time of its closure, people told The Star that they were ‘gutted’, adding: “Where do we go for a game of pool now?”
Since then, developers have attempted to renew the site, painting over the white façade, covering over all but one of the old pub’s signs, and installing new rolling shutters.
In September this year, Sheffield Council granted permission to convert the upper floors of the site into a HMO (house in multiple occupation), however another application has now been put forward to deal with the ground floor.
The latest, which was submitted to Sheffield City Council’s planning board on October 29, suggests converting the pub into three commercial units.
Documents show how two partition walls will be introduced in the former bar area, splitting the ground floor into three shops.
Each would have its own toilet, with fire exits and bin storage to the rear.
The previously approved 12-bedroom HMO will remain accessible through a separate doorway at the front, leading to a staircase to the upper floors.
Residents’ bins will be stored in a separate section to the rear of the building.
Public consultation for the commercial unit plans is open until December 1, with a decision set to be made by Christmas Eve.
Planning reference: 25/03230/FUL.