Regulars fought to save Peterborough pub

A look back at stories from the Peterborough Telegraph archives – some sad, some happy, some serious, some funny

There was much sadness but not much surprise when a few weeks back the Peterborough Telegraph reported the Cherry Tree pub in Oundle Road was to close with no immediate prospect of it reopening.

Landlady Janet Goldswain rang last orders for the last time with a heavy heart but with declining trade she said it was not a difficult decision to close but it was a heartbreaking one.

Ironically, almost 10 years to the day the Cherry Tree was on the front page of The Evening Telgraph.

OnWednesday, December6, 2006, residents and regulars werecelebrating victory after a long battle to save the pub from the bulldozers.

Plans had been submitted to demolishthepub tomakeway for a block of flats.

Nearly 2,000 people had signed a petition calling on the owners Milton Estates to scrap the plans.

In the end people power won the day much to the delight of landlord and landlady Jess and Ann Caprio.

Theu-turn meantaplanned protest march from the pub to Cathedral Square could be called off. Mrs Caprio said: “We were astounded by the reaction, it was absolutely brilliant.

“We knew local people would be upset but we didn’t expect such strong support.’’

One regular told the newspaper: “To lose it would have been a tragedy for a large chunk of Peterborough’s social scene.’’

Times change and ironic ally a decade on the pub has closed because of a lack of supp0rt.

In sport Poshbattledtoa0-0 draw with Hereford thanks mainly to the heroics of keeperMarkTyler. PoshbossKeith Alexander claimed the result was proof of the team’ s promotion credentials.