Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether pubs which are reclassified by their owners as restaurants are deemed to be pubs for change of use applications.

Planning permission is always required for the material change of use of a pub, including to a restaurant. It is for the local planning authority to determine whether there has been a material change of use for which a planning application was required.