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Locals are fighting plans by Greene King to pull down the Gold Cup pub in North Ascot and build four new homes
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Beer drinkers fight plan to replace pub with homes

By Jennie Slevin
January 22, 2013

Beer drinkers are taking a stand against a brewery which has applied to demolish a pub and replace it with houses.

Greene King has applied to Bracknell Forest Council to tear down the Gold Cup pub in Fernbank Road, North Ascot, and build four houses.

During the consultation period, which ended on Friday, January 4, the council received four letters of objection from neighbours who said they did not want to lose their only local pub.

The Berkshire South East branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), has also lodged an objection and members say, although the pub has been closed since last year, it ‘had previously been a well-used community local’.

Barry Garber, the branch’s pub preservation officer, said: “CAMRA supports pubs as the centre of community life and believes their continual existence plays a critical social role in UK culture.

“The Gold Cup is the only pub in the locality, and its permanent loss will be to the detriment of residents as a place to meet and socialise in a pleasant environment.

“CAMRA believes the Gold Cup could be run as a viable pub business, and the planning authority should apply the Public House Viability Test before coming to its final decision on this.

“A local public house is a great asset to the community and should be retained as such.”

Greene King applied to build two three-bedroom houses and two two-bed bungalows in place of the pub last December.

Winkfield Parish Council has said it has no objection against the demolition of the pub, as long as the access road complies with Bracknell Forest Council’s highways standards.

A Greene King spokeswoman said: “Following the retirement of our long-term licensee in 2011, we made the difficult decision to close the Gold Cup.

“We can confirm a planning application has been submitted to develop the pub into housing, which has had support from the pub’s neighbours.”

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Most recent user comments 5 of 5

Maybe this White Knight can rush in and save the day:

http://www.getbracknell.co.uk/community/s/2127545_mp_dr_phillip_lee_turns_barman_at_old_manor

Neal Evans, Forest Park
23/01/2013 at 08:16

There used to be three pubs in Fernbank Road. Two have been demolished for housing and the Gold Cup is all that is left. Surely with all the housing in the locallity, it could be a vaible business if it had decent management. I am certain in the right hands and marketed well, it can be a lovely community hub again.

Time4tea
22/01/2013 at 14:18

I think it's a shame when we lose pubs as they are a culturally important part of a community and are an intrinsic element of our national character.

But....

So was the poor house, scurvy, child labour, and a thick ear off the local bobby. They fell by the wayside as values and society changed.

We live in a diverse capitalist economy. If this pub is not viable for the owners, and alternative preferences of local drinkers has led to it's demise, then the owners are entitled to make a business based decision on it's future.

Since when were pubs meant to be subsidised public services? These same objectors and CAMRA would bemoan the state of the economy, and with Phillip Lee cynically exploiting the image of pubs and getting headlines with local CAMRA bods, you can't have it both ways.

Winstanley, Bracknell
22/01/2013 at 10:42

Guess they'll have to buy beer from a supermarket and drink at home then won't they! If they're really that nostalgic, perhaps they could buy one of the homes that will now reside on their precious plot of land...

Bruce Wayne
22/01/2013 at 09:53

This pub was mismanaged for years. It used to be full of the same ole' faces, and non-regulars were never really made to feel particularly welcome. It was a shame, as it has a large proportion of houses and potential custom on its doorstep and the pub itself is a pretty decent-sized building that could – with the right level of investment – be a really good draw. But, I suspect that any potential investor would want some kind of assurance that locals would actually use the place, and this seems unlikely. I suspect it’ll go the same way as so many other community pubs.