Residents vow to fight pub houses

The Jolly Angler closed on 16 June

Supporters of a Berkshire riverside pub that was shut down with one day's notice have said they will fight plans to turn it into housing.

The Jolly Angler in Newtown Reading was built by biscuit makers Huntley and Palmers 150 years ago.

Owner Enterprise Inns sold it on 19 June but declined to comment on reports the contract included a restriction on it being re-opened as a pub.

On Sunday residents held a meeting to discuss plans to save the pub.

Locals shocked

Colm Daly, a supporter of the pub, said: "In the short time of a decade we've seen three other local pubs shut in our area to be turned into yet more housing.

"We've also witnessed the closure of our post office and even the removal of our only post box which was obviously too small to turn into housing."

Enterprise Inns confirmed it had sold the pub but refused to reveal the buyer's identity.

John Westendorp was told to be out within three days

In a statement it said: "The sale followed an extended period when the Jolly Anglers had been closed.

"We've been publicly marketing it since January and any further questions about the pub's future need to be taken up with the new owners whose identity we're not at liberty to divulge.

"On the subject of the suggested covenant all further details relating to the sale remain confidential."

John Westendorp, former landlord of the Jolly Angler, said he was told on 16 June that he had to shut the pub the same evening and be out three days later.

He said: "The people in the pub were absolutely shocked as well and dismayed.

"Word got round so, so quickly it was just unreal. By three o'clock the phone never stopped ringing from all sorts of people saying what's going on, why are you closing?"

Residents are now planning to hold a street party outside the pub and to picket Enterprise Inns' headquarters in the Midlands.

They want to find out who the pub has been sold to and what the new owner plans to do with it.

Rob Wilson, MP for Reading East, is due to meet campaigners on Thursday and said it was a story being repeated across the country with the loss of community services like post offices and pubs.

"It's a real problem and local people are fed up with it and the way it happened so suddenly with 24-hours notice," he said.

"Changing the Jolly Angler into another set of non-descript flats is just a no, no for me. I want to see that pub back working and successful."