Leave beloved Lescar alone

The gritty Sheffield pub, described by its regulars as like a "timewarp" with an "eclectic mix of clientele," dates from the 1880s although there has been one on the site since 1588, the year of the Spanish Armada.

An on-line petition has been started on Facebook, and there's another on the bar, to save the pub, used for the last 15 years by the city's Last Laugh Comedy Club.

Eddy Izzard, Peter Kay and Graham Norton have all played there.

It's understood the change will happen in October and the Lescar will be modelled on its Castle brand of pubs – such as the Adelphi in Leeds – but M&B will not confirm that.

It says the refurbishment "will not change the individual character of the pub but will improve the range of food and drinks as well as updating the decor."

Regulars, a mix of students, the odd lecturer, social workers, journalists and even a judge, fear they will see sofas and living room furniture replace the bench seating and duck and fig pat on the menu instead of steaks and all-day breakfasts.

The Lescar has at least three TV screens and bookshelves holding up novels in German and Selections from Sir Thomas Urquart of Cromarty.

The Facebook site says it represents "the upset mass of regular Lescar Hotel visitors and loyal customers".

Meanwhile, Toby says he does not know whether Last Laugh will be allowed to remain in the pub's back room after October.

He says: "It's got atmosphere and heritage but the accountants would have closed us down there years ago."

It holds a maximum of 80 and by the time he's paid the acts and their hotel bills he says he's out of pocket.

"But we do it because it's great," he says.

Other names who have played the Lescar include Jimmy Carr, Ross Noble and Dara O'Briain.

M&B says it does not intend to "standardise" the interior but the toilets will be improved and the kitchen extended to serve better traditional pub grub.

"The Lescar will continue to be a place that has something to offer all members of the Hunter's Bar community and will maintain its reputation as a friendly and welcoming public house."

Landlord Duncan MacFarlane, who with his wife Helen has been there since 2000, says he is not allowed to comment.