Romsey residents are banding together in an attempt to revive the town’s boarded-up pub.
Two representatives of the community are this week meeting with Romsey pub owner and long-term hotelier Jim Hogan to discuss the sale of the historic watering hole.
In October last year Mr Hogan told Star Weekly the pub was closed for business and the property was on the market.
At the time, he said he had “received many offers already from a variety of different business operators/developers”, but the property has not changed hands in the months since.
Residents last month called a community meeting in Romsey to discuss reopening the pub. At the meeting, a representative of Mr Hogan, Debra Lawry, said the owner wanted to put auction boards up in coming weeks.
She refuted rumours that Mr Hogan was trying to reopen the pub with gaming machines. In 2008, he unsuccessfully fought to introduce gaming machines at the venue.
Locals have been floating the idea of the community owning the business since the pub closed.
A working group of seven was formed at the meeting to progress the idea of community ownership.
Group member Sandra Chestnutt told Star Weekly a lot of people liked the idea of the community running the historic venue.
“It would be a wonderful thing for the community to buy the pub,” Ms Chestnutt said.
“And other communities have shown that you can do it.”
Romsey Football Netball Club life member Alan Ede also addressed the meeting, suggesting the club may be willing to take on a licence for the pub.
He offered to speak to Mr Hogan on behalf of the club.
