Campaign to reopen The Jolly Anglers

[johnH]

Reading Post
By Anna Roberts
June 24, 2009



Angry drinkers were on the warpath as doomed boozer The Jolly Anglers was boarded up.

Campaigners against its closure gathered outside the Newtown pub on Friday, just three days after Enterprise Inns called time at the Kennetside boozer and gave 53-year-old landlord John Westendorp the heave ho.

About 30 people – locals, politicians, fellow publicans and members of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) – attended the protest.

Mr Westendorp, now living in Oxford, did not attend but on Monday he told the Post he was grateful for Reading’s support.

He said: “Bearing in mind I have only been there a very short time this is great.

“I’d like to keep the pub open but I understand there is a restricted covenant on it meaning it can only reopen not as a pub.

“If the covenant can be lifted, then that’s brilliant.”

Mr Westendorp previously said he’d heard rumours it may be turned into a £50-a-night homeless shelter.

In May, Enterprise, which will only confirm it is in the process of selling the watering hole, boarded up Northumberland Avenue’s Whitley Tavern – also rumoured to be subject to a restricted covenant.

CAMRA’s Phil Gill said: “The Jolly Anglers is a true community pub and one that had been increasingly successful since John took over.

“With beer festivals and music nights there has been a real community feel to the pub and there are a lot of people angry at its enforced closure.”

Protester Cathy Marsden, 47, of School Terrace, Newtown, said: “This pub is a valuable community resource and part of the lifeblood of the community. I have met all sorts of people from the local communities there and gained an insight into their lives.”

Landlord and lady of East Reading’s The Retreat, Bernie Whiten and Jane Marsden, said: “We’re disappointed about it closing.

“It means there will only be one pub in Newtown – an area with generations of families.”

Liberal Democrat prospective Parliamentary candidate for Reading East Councillor Gareth Epps said: “It is outrageous treatment. Newtown will not allow ‘time’ to be called on The Anglers.”

Anneliese Dodds, Labour’s prospective Parliamentary hopeful in Reading East, said: “I was appalled to hear the staff and landlord were given barely eight hours’ notice the pub was to close.

“The staff have tried very hard to turn it into a well-used community pub and its presence makes the area much safer for local residents.”

aroberts@reading-epost.co.uk
www.getreading.co.uk

[gareth]

Thanks for posting this John - there is also a thread in the 'Developments' topic.

There's a Facebook group and a campaign starting with a lot of people fired up including CAMRA. Contrary to claims being made elsewhere, the pub had been turned round and was making a profit when it was suddenly closed. No planning application has gone in (yet....); I think the new owners are becoming aware of the scale of opposition they would face to a change of use and also that there were higher bids - to keep the pub open as a going concern - rejected by Enterprise.

[Les]

This whole item is beggining to take on a very unpleasant odour. It must be the stuff that some people use to lubricate palms. Back hands should be the province of the tennis courts and not anywhere else

[old_chris]

So can Enterprise change the use of the pub if it was generating profit?

[gareth]

So can Enterprise change the use of the pub if it was generating profit?

Basically not, Chris. They would have to demonstrate it was unprofitable. I'd like to see them try!

They would no doubt argue that the place had been closed last winter and one period before - but that had far more to do with their management practices than anything else.

[johnH]

Reading Post
By Anna Roberts
July 03, 2009



Time will NOT be called on Newtown pub The Jolly Anglers.

Drinkers from the Kennetside boozer will make this vow on Sunday as they gather in The Retreat in St John’s Road, East Reading.

A campaign meeting will take place between 6.30pm and 8pm with scores of people – including getreading – set to attend and discuss how to save the pub which was shut last month by owner Enterprise Inns.

Newtown campaigner Rob White has also set up a Facebook group “Reopen the Jolly Anglers”.

Mr White, 30, of Cholmeley Road, said: “On Tuesday, June 16, the Jolly Anglers opened for the last time. It was sold by Enterprise Inns.

“Pubs like this one are part of the glue that holds communities together. We have already lost the Dove, the Plasterers and the Eastgate from the local area and we are all poorer for it.

“Let us work together to reopen The Jolly Anglers for the good of the community.”

Mr White’s group has so far been joined by more than 100 members.

On it people have spoken about their love of the Kennetside pub.

Jamie Howell said: “I played a gig at the Jolly Anglers.

“It was thriving and lots of people stopped to have a drink on the way past. There was a really good atmosphere and everyone in the band was very enthusiastic about playing there again. Such a shame that this has happened.”

Colm Daly said: “Such egalitarian meeting places as ‘our locals’ enhance our social cohesion beyond what any contrived youth centre or day centre can dream of offering (I know, I work in both) and better still they are self-funding.”

Parliamentary candidates Gareth Epps (Lib Dem), and Anneliese Dodds (Labour), also support the pub.

However, it is thought The Jolly Anglers is subject to a restricted covenant according to its former landlord John Westendorp. He said this means it cannot reopen as a pub. He also said he heard rumours it could be turned into a £50-a-night homeless shelter.

But there are suggestions Reading Borough Council also wants to save the town’s watering holes.

Included in a response to enquiries from campaigner Cathy Marsden, the council’s planning department said in an email: “A lot of pubs in Reading are under threat at the moment and we have lost some, but are wising up as to how to prevent them being re-developed – we have just retained the Horse and Jockey pub on Castle Hill and The Oasis pub in Baker Street, both of which were the subject of re-development schemes.

“Planning policy aims to retain community facilities, and pubs are obviously an important part of that provision.”

www.getreading.co.uk

[gareth]

Apart from getting the location of the Retreat wrong (it's Street not Road), it was a well-attended and good meeting last night with one campaigner connected and contributing from France via the Internet!