Newly refurbished Newcastle pub faces demolition threat

A Newcastle pub that has just reopened after a £100,000 revamp is now facing demolition.

Regulars at the Whin Dyke have now launched a petition in the hope of saving their local.

The pub, which was badly damaged in a fire caused by an electrical fault, held a grand reopening party last month. But the celebrations were marred by revelations in the local evening newspaper, just days before, that planners want to demolish the Whin Dyke as part of a multi-million pound redevelopment of the neighbouring Denton Park shopping centre.

Newcastle City Council has placed a compulsory purchase order on the building.

The pub, which is one of 429 owned by Chester-based Pyramid Pub Management, dates back to 1971.

Area manager Denise Higgins (pictured)​ said: "We've spent a lot of time, effort and money and the place is beautiful now.

"There's no way on earth we would have done all this if we had known the pub was going to be demolished. The phone has not stopped ringing. Customers are going absolutely mad."

Customer Tommy Addison said: "I've been coming here for 30 years. It's a second home for me."

A council report says the Whin Dyke needs to be demolished to allow better access to the shopping mall and to create a car park.

A spokesman for the developers said: "Outline planning permission has been around for two years. We have been corresponding with the pub's management company. The confusion must be due to a breakdown in communication."