The Triple fff brewery in Four Marks has appealed to the Planning Inspectorate in a bid to keep its popular Offf The Rails tap room open.

In March 2023 Triple fff founder Graham Trott applied to East Hampshire District Council for a lawful development certificate for an existing use, continuing since before 2012, of the Offf The Rails premises and outdoor space as a tap room ancillary to the principal brewing function of the site at Station Approach in Four Marks.

The council refused permission in May 2024 and Triple fff appealed in March 2025. The Planning Inspectorate appeal reference number is APP/M1710/X/24/3356048.

In its statement of case against the appeal, the council said a licence to sell alcohol at the site was granted in 2019, but this did not show continuous use for ten years from 2012.

It added that ‘ancillary’ meant a connected subsidiary use, limited to “the occasional open day” or “for customers to enjoy a quick drink following a brewery tour”. The council also said the tap room and outdoor space were “much larger than the brewing facility”.

The council concluded: “The local planning authority do not consider the tap room and external seating area to be ancillary to the function of the brewery. Nor are the local planning authority satisfied that the development has been in situ for a continuous period of ten years.”

Triple fff’s statement of case said the council’s decision to refuse a lawful development certificate was “incorrect and flawed” because it did not recognise that supporting evidence was, on the balance of probability, sufficiently substantial to demonstrate a continuing and conforming use for a period of ten years, and it failed to acknowledge the clear distinction between a ‘continuing’ use that the lawful development certificate application sought, and the ‘continuous’ use for which it was refused.