The owners of a Warwick hotel will next week find out if they have permission to keep a recently refurbished patio area to the rear of the building.

Warwick District Council's (WDC) planning committee will decide on retrospective plans for the renovations at the Warwick Arms Hotel next Tuesday (February 13).

The High Street business, which was taken over by father-and-daughter duo Guy and Daisy Middlebrook last year, has given a makeover to the rear courtyard which was in "extremely poor condition" before the works.

The new patio at the grade II listed building was laid last year, but several locals from neighbouring properties have voiced their objections.

Despite this, district planners have recommended the scheme be given the green light, on the condition the patio is not used between 10pm and 7.30am, and no music is played outside.

"The proposal will not result in an unacceptable impact on the character of the surrounding area, nor will it have a harmful impact on the Warwick conservation area or setting of the listed building," a council report said.

"Subject to conditions restricting the hours of use of the patio area and prohibiting amplified music, the proposal will not have a harmful impact on the amenity of neighbouring residential properties."

The newly-refurbished patio area (image via planning application)

The application has split opinion, with 15 people writing in support of the plans, and seven objecting.

Warwick Town Council submitted a hold objection.

Meanwhile neighbour Phillipa Wilson wrote: "The noise from people enjoying the patio throughout the day and very late into the night has ruined my occupation of my quiet home.

"The pollution from cigarette smoke comes directly into my home and I have no other quiet elevation to go to in order to avoid the antisocial noise. 

"I cannot avoid being disturbed by the music that comes from the hotel as people come in and out onto the patio regardless of whether or not the function room door is mainly kept closed."

But in its application to the council, the Warwick Arms Hotel said the works to what already was a patio area, were vital for the business.

"The area where the new patio has been laid is 60 per cent concrete slabs (many broken), 30 per cent stone cobbles (there were in a very poor state and the loose cobbles were used to repair the main courtyard)," it said.

The application added: "We purchased The Warwick Arms Hotel last year, it is an old hotel which had started to become very run down and in a poor state of repair. 

"We have invested heavily in refurbishing the hotel, the dated plumbing system, the communal areas, the bedrooms and also the external areas and fabric of the building."

The application said the patio was in very poor condition before the works (image via planning application)

The owners also addressed some of the concerns, saying the area has simply been smartened, and not changed in the way it is used.

"The patio area has been upgraded, but it has always been used as an area for smoking, drinking and socialising," they said.

"This renovation has resulted in a more contained area for the cigarette smoke and a reduction in litter as the smokers previously roamed the carpark and put out cigarettes in planters around the area.

"The improved patio has a barrier to contain guests in a fixed area and is well provided with ash trays."

When the new owners took over they spent more than £120,000 in the first year as part of a "long-term renovation programme" for the hotel's 40 bedrooms.

Money was also spent refurbishing the hotel's events suite, which can accommodate up to 120 people for weddings, conferences and other events such as comedy nights.

See the full application here.