Regulars back pub closure

jbullen@thekmgroup.co.uk PUB regulars pleaded with councillors to close their local watering hole because it had lost the support of the village.

Customers at The Unicorn in Bekesbourne Hill attended a city council planning meeting to support the owner’s application to convert the pub into a house.

Landlords Martin and Shirley Short said they wanted to prevent it from turning into a boarded-up property.

They told councillors the village local had been for sale since May 2011, but despite the asking price being lowered by £100,000, no offers were made.

The committee heard the pub had been heavily subsidised by Mr Short’s plumbing company over the past month and £20,000 had been ploughed in to clear debts.

Roland Moon said he had been drinking at the pub for more than 40 years but said not enough villagers supported the duo behind the bar.

He said: “The pub is not wanted by the community and for them this closure will not matter a jot.

“When it was discussed no one from the parish came forward to object to its change of use.”

Customer Mark Jopling said numerous attempts had been made by the couple to drive business. In a letter supporting the application he wrote: “Nobody could have done more than Mr and Mrs Short to make a go of it. Their efforts have been truly Herculean.”

An emotional Mr Short said he did not want to close the pub and said the only reason it reached the committee was because people who didn’t use the pub objected.

After the meeting he said: “I have very mixed feelings. We are relieved but it’s a sad day and unfortunately it’s an end of an era. People who come through the door regularly understand.”

Members unanimously backed the application.

Martin and Shirley Short, landlords of The Unicorn pub, had made ‘Herculean efforts’ to save it, councillors heard