Davies' pub-to-housing plan fuels village outcry
by Ewan Turney
Cotswold villagers launched a scathing attack on fashion guru George Davies and his wife, Fiona, claiming that they have "their own agenda" after announcing plans to turn Bourton-on-the-Hill's only pub into housing. Villagers also claimed the pub was doomed to fail after its food service was curtailed.
George Davies, who launched ASDA's George range of clothing and Marks & Spencer's Per Una, and his wife took over the Horse & Groom in 1996, but now claim the business is simply not working.
More than 100 irate villagers gathered at a public meeting to protest against planning permission being granted. Many hit out at the poor management of the pub, which had ditched food and now only opened 11 hours a week.
Alex Monroe, who lives next door to the Horse & Groom, said: "It was a thriving pub. There was an excellent restaurant and people used to go in all the time. But when they stopped serving food it died on its feet."
Maggie Dillon-Godfry, who helped the couple launch the Horse & Groom, added: "When George first opened the pub he said he wanted it to be a centre for the village. They had an excellent chef but the rest of the staff had no training. You would wait half the night for your wine to arrive. No wonder he thought it wasn't working."
Chairman of the parish council Patricia Hayes said the village could not afford to lose its only pub, with the petrol station currently under threat and following the recent closure of the Post Office.
"It's absolutely vital that the pub should be regenerated and become an asset to the village and the area," she said. "It was a lovely pub and a prominent landmark a credit to the area."
A Gloucestershire Campaign for Real Ale spokesman confirmed that it would be also be objecting to the application.
Neither George nor Fiona Davies attended the meeting and both declined to comment.
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