A village has joined a campaign to find a landlord or lady to run their ancient pub which has closed.
The Green Man, in Hinton Road, Hurst, has been a licensed pub since the 1600s, according to the book Hurst, A New Look At An Ancient Parish by Henry Farrar.
Hurst Parish Council chair Wayne Smith, normally a customer at the pub, said: “I’ve asked the owners Brakspear to let us know about anything the village can do to support the pub, to publicise it so new people can be found to run it.
“In the past it has been a great pub and we don’t want to lose it. The last thing we want is for it to be turned into a house.
“It has been a thriving community pub. Pubs do thrive in Hurst. In the whole of the parish we have six. They all offer something different.”
He said there were 575 homes in the centre of Hurst where the Green Man is.
Customers also came from further away to enjoy the pub’s rural garden and beamed interior.
Hurst’s unusually large total of pubs includes: the Elephant and Castle, The Wheelwright’s Arms, The Castle, The Warren, The Jolly Farmer and The Green Man.
Emma Sweet, marketing manager for Brakspear, said: “The Green Man closed on September 5, sooner than we would have anticipated. We usually have six months to find someone.
“We’re actively recruiting for the property. It’s just hard at the moment because of energy prices being what they are and all the uncertainties. It’s not ideal for people to take pubs,” she said.
“It’s a fantastic pub, it’s obviously had a lot of support from locals in Hurst and surrounding areas. It has a lovely cellar bar which is a nice snug area and a lovely garden. It’s a friendly village pub, you can really get involved in the community.”
Whoever takes on the pub will run it as their own business. The guide rent is £50,000 a year, payable weekly in advance by direct debit. Rent steps, gradual increases, can be agreed for the right operator.
Anyone interested in taking on the Green Man can talk to Amanda Windows at Brakspear on 01491 570200 or visit https://brakspear.co.uk/pub/green-man/?prl=run-your-pub.
