Anxious wait to discover mystery buyer of community pub (From Epsom Guardian)

Anxious wait to discover mystery buyer of Worcester Park pub

6:00am Wednesday 22nd August 2012 in News By Clare Buchanan

June Fraser outside the Worcester Park Tavern

A community is anxiously waiting to find out the mystery buyer of a pub they had been fighting to save.

The Worcester Park Tavern, which was put on the market in May by owners Spirit Pub Company, took last orders before closing on Tuesday, August 14.

The Campaign for Real Ale and hundreds of residents backed a campaign to save the landmark pub on a prime site near Worcester Park station, which they fear could be knocked down for flats.

A spokesperson for Spirit Pub Company said because the sale was not completed the buyer’s identity could not be revealed.

Campaign leader June Fraser, 57, said: “It’s just frustrating at the moment that we don’t know what we face and who we will be fighting, if at all.

“As long as a pub group takes over that would be fantastic.

“If a hotel takes it I would be reasonably happy if they kept the building. I just want that to be preserved not knocked down.

“It’s driving us mad.”

The Spirit Pub Company spokesman said where possible staff at the pub would be relocated to other branches nearby.

The pub underwent a £1m revamp in 2002 but has since become dilapidated and run down.

Mrs Fraser said there had been rumours that the only other pub in Worcester Park, the North End Tavern, may also close but owners the Stonegate Pub Company said this was not the case.

A Stonegate spokesman said: “Our customers can be reassured that we have no plans to close or sell their community pub."

Mrs Fraser said: “We would also fight to save that one because that would mean Worcester Park wouldn’t have a pub at all which is ridiculous for a place this size.”