Contracts were today exchanged for the sale of the freehold of Brighton pub the Horse and Groom.
A campaign was started last month to get the pub listed as an asset of community value, which would have delayed any sale by six months and given residents a chance to bid for it.
But although Save the Groom group submitted its application three weeks ago, it has not yet been decided, which means the sale could proceed.
Landlord Pat Hennessy today said that it was his last official day in charge of the Islingword Road pub as the contracts had been exchanged this morning.
He said: “It’s heartbreaking.”
The pub has been sold by Enterprise Inns, which also sold the London Unity, the Albion Inn and the Rose Hill Tavern.
A spokesman said: “Unfortunately, trade at our venue The Horse and Groom has fallen considerably in recent years.
“Following the most recent publican’s decision to cease trading, we gave careful consideration to the pub’s position within our estate and decided to accept an offer on the freehold of the site, with no restrictions on future use. We can confirm that the sale completed at midday on Friday 27 February.”
The London Unity has been turned into two homes, the new owners of the Albion Inn and the Rose Hill Tavern are applying to turn them into housing.
However, the Rose Hill Tavern has been made an asset of community value, and a decision on the planning application has not yet been made despite being due in November.
An appeal by the new owner against the ACV was heard on 17 February, and a ruling is pending.
Ronnie Daye, of the Save the Groom campaign, said: “We’re still gathering support. We’ve had people contacting us from across the world, including musicians from as far away as Australia.
“Yes, it has been sold but we’ve taken legal advice and believe the council can step in and stop any redevelopment while our application for an ACV is decided.”
So far, almost 800 people have signed a petition urging Brighton’s two MPs Caroline Lucas and Simon Kirby and local government minister Eric Pickles urging them to help save the pub from closure.
Use ’em or lose ’em as the saying goes. I used two fairly regularly but some drifted away and with no new regular custom that made life difficult for the landlords and landladies. The smoking ban didn’t help much either which is rather strange as I remember a certain Labour MP saying that people will flock back to pubs now that they don’t have to smell or be affected by cigarette smoke anymore. Methought she was talking out of her rather large behind to be honest. Seems I was right…
Good to see Argus levels of comments coming through here as well….
The decline of the local boozer has mch more to do with the fact that people as a whole are drinking much less and therefore need less boozers to do it in.
I do dislike the reduction of social spaces in Hanover, quite why they can’t be replaced with nice cafes, which we are severely lacking around here in not sure.
Of course the area used to have a shop on every single corner, shop, pub, chemist, stores etc. even in my 37 years I can remember there being double what there is now.
The artificial value of housing has more to do with it than anything g else I’m sure!
People drinking at home and the increase of some youth taking illegal drugs and legal highs doesn’t help matters either.
Happy to help in any way, raising finance, planning, alternative use cafe/wine bar/ restaurant etc and run by the community like the Bevendean.
The landlord is rude and aggressive my friends went there to play for free. Landlord had a go at them for turning up early to do a sound check before the time they have to go on so they just left without playing he was rude to their families and their friends.