Fight to save landmark pub from demolition

Although the pub is currently still open, documents submitted to the council report it has been 'trading poorly' in recent years. It is owned by brewer and pub company Hall & Woodhouse, which operates around 200 pubs. 

Campaigner and local Richard Street said: “There was a real sense that the pub being demolished was inevitable and everyone had given up but I thought it would be a shame to knock it down without even trying to save it.

"There are a lot of people who want to support the pub, from local councillors rallying round to locals offering significant amounts of money to help save it. There’s a real vision of what it could be: a good pub selling excellent real ale and pub-grub.”

Street blamed a lack of investment for the pubs current neglected state and is currently receiving advice from CAMRA about listing the pub as an asset of community value. Locals are being urged to submit letters objecting to the plans to the council in the hopes of buying the inn a new lease of life.

One such letter argued that the loss of the pub would have a significant effect on the well-being of residents who use the pub socially and to organise events.

However, another letter from a local said he was in favour of the plans and was looking forward to “a beautiful town centre connecting the new and exciting John Lewis at Home to Waitrose.”

Street is currently exploring whether a landlord can be found for the Fountain Inn if it is listed as an ACV and successfully bought by the community.