A delighted pub landlord is planning a community fun day after his boozer was saved from bulldozers.
Landlord Mark Copley, said he was “delighted” when borough council planners rejected an application to convert The Soldiers Return, on Upper Sherborne Road, into flats.
The move was also criticised by the Basingstoke Heritage Society whose research found records of the building dating back to 1871.
In November, JSA Planning in Maidenhead, on behalf of the Wellington Pub Company, proposed the pub be demolished.
The move would make way for two, two-bedroom houses and four, three-bedroom homes.
But pub regulars rallied together and a 92-signature petition was submitted to borough planners on January 26.
Mr Copley said he was chuffed at the support from the community who added seven letters of objection on top of the petition.
He said: “It is brilliant the council wanted us to stay and more importantly that the community wanted us to keep going.
“When people came forward to put their names on the petition that told me the people really wanted the pub to stay, the community really came out to support us.”
Borough council planners refused the application on the grounds that the building had “historical, architectural and social importance”, and the plans did not show the council that building houses would outweigh the loss of the pub.
Mr Copley will hold an Easter fete on Upper Sherborne Road playing fields and a real ale festival on April 25.
He said: “We are doing it for the community, it is a thank you to our locals that wanted us to stay open.”
Following four months of set-backs, the landlord has ambitious plans to revamp to boozer.
He said he is in talks with The Wellington Pub Company, who own the building, to get a fixed term tenancy.
And plans are underway to revamp the kitchen and introduce a food menu.
Mr Copley said: “We want to create the old feel of the pub and bring back its atmosphere.
“It has been a hard couple of months, being told of the plans over Christmas really hurt our takings, but now we can look ahead to a bright future.”
Heritage Society secretary is also applying to get the building locally listed. She said: “It is good news the pub is still standing, it deserves it.”
