Plans to turn a Worle pub into a 100-place nursery have been approved despite 86 objections.
The applicant said the Woodspring had been run by a succession of tenants with intermittent closures and the owners had tried to sell it without success.
The pub has a beer garden, parking and space inside to seat 90 customers, plus a bar, kitchen, cellar and toilets.
Residents said its loss would harm the High Street and claimed another nursery was not needed.
But North Somerset Council officers accepted the applicant’s case that the Woodspring was no longer viable, and with two other pubs in walking distance its loss was acceptable.
They said: “The proposed use as a children’s nursery would also be a community asset, so it would retain community value to local residents.
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“The agent submitted information to demonstrate there is growing need for early years childcare in the area, due to the introduction of the 30 hours funded childcare and population growth.
“Consequently, it is considered the use of a children’s nursery at the proposed site is appropriate in principle.
“There were concerns the proposed use would result in noise disturbance to surrounding neighbours. However, the proposed use would be predominantly in the day time, when the High Street would be in use, and so within more sociable hours.”
The application was approved by officers.
