FORMER HAVANT PUB THE SIX BELLS LET TO TAKEAWAY PIZZA CHAIN CAPRINOS PIZZA

A CLOSED pub in Havant has been let to a pizza company.

The Six Bells in North Street was the subject of a closure order by police in February 2019 for non-compliance of its licence, before it closed for good in April 2019 and has been unused ever since.

An application to turn the premises into two flats was refused by Havant Borough Council last year as officers were concerned about the loss of ground floor commercial frontage.

However, the premises has now been let to pizza chain restaurant and take away Caprinos Pizza, which has branches across the country. It has recently opened its 51st branch in Southampton.

Council papers said that Flude Property Consultants (FPC), that had been marketing the building to let since 2019, had received several enquiries from a number of commercial occupiers, such as a micro pub, coffee shop, private gentleman's club and breakfast cafe, before they completed the letting to the pizza chain.

FPC surveyor, Mary Jackson, said: ‘We are pleased to see these premises now let and adding to the local offering.

The letting highlights how the retail market is gradually recovering from all the challenges it has faced after the last few years.’

Ward councillor Tim Pike said that he was pleased to see the premises being brought back into use.

He said: ‘From my point of view, I would like to see the building being used and it is better that it is used for a town centre use than as residential properties.’

Caprinos, which started business in 2014 in Oxfordshire, was contacted for comment.