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Village pub safe as buyer steps in
A BUYER has come forward for a demolition-threatened pub in South Yorkshire, after a local campaign stopped developers turning it into a block of flats.
The Robin Hood and Little John pub in Hatfield Woodhouse has been closed for several years while a developer sought planning permission to convert it into apartments.
But an energetic community campaign managed to persuade Doncaster Council to reject an application for change of use.
Now the building - which has served as a drinking house since the 1830s - is to re-open as a pub after a Doncaster property developer offered more than the 275,000 asking price.
Wykeham Estates, who own a number of licensed premises in South Yorkshire, plan to run the pub under management.
Nigel Mitchell, chair of the Save Our Pub group, lives next door to the pub on Main Street and said: "The campaign got a great response. We had about 200 people at a meeting to protest the plans, and I think the council got the message.
"It used to be a lovely pub. It really was the heart of the community.
"Turning it into a block of 22 flats would have wrecked the village. We're really pleased we're going to get the pub back."
New manager Andrew Hempsall has warned, however, that it will be some months before the pub is up and running again.
"When we opened the doors we found vandals had got in and wrecked the place," he said. "It needs a lot of work."
But Mr Hempsall has pledged to put the pub back in its rightful place at the centre of village life.
"It's going to be absolutely fantastic," he said. "This village is going to get the pub it deserves."
Gary Proctor, chair of the Doncaster Campaign for Real Ale, said: "The old pub had a great reputation. When pubs left, right and centre are shutting down it's fantastic we're going to get one back, especially as the plan is to serve real ale."
The purchased site includes a patch of land next to the pub with planning permission for four semi-detached houses.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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