An award-winning brewery has unveiled plans for a modern winter garden where customers can drink whatever the weather.

Westerham Brewery in Beggars Lane, Westerham, is in the Metropolitan green belt and within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It has also been described by planning officers as having high visibility within the countryside and surrounding area.

It means getting planning permission might be difficult, but the firm is hoping the design will win favour with planners.

The company has applied to Sevenoaks District Council for permission to create “a permanent Winter Garden” adjacent to the north elevation of the brewery.

It will be a free-standing glazed addition to the main building, to accommodate extra seating.

The application is the latest phase in a development that began during Covid, when the company put up gazebos in the grounds to accommodate customers within recommended distancing safety protocols.

These proved, in the company’s words, “a successful addition to the Westerham Brewery, enjoyed by customers and helping to boost sales during the difficult lock-down period”.

That led in 2021 to the brewery applying for – and being granted – permission to make the eight fabric gazebos permanent.

Now the latest application seeks to replace those eight fabric gazebos with a permanent structure with a metal frame, half-timbered sides, windows and a glazed roof.

The application papers do not include the normal design and access statement to explain exactly what is being proposed, but Robert Wicks, the founder and head brewer of the brewery explained: “The rear of the structure is constructed of a series of goal posts (four in total) which hold up the rear false wall and glass roof. It stands off the building and is not connected to the north curtain wall of the brewery.”

He said the concept of a winter garden would be familiar to those who attended the food court at Bluewater shopping centre.

Details can be seen on the Sevenoaks council website here. Look for application number 23/03163.

To see more planning applications and other public notices for your area, visit publicnoticeportal.uk

The application for permanent permission for the gazebos was number 21/03436.