Doomed pubs saved
Two struggling pubs have been saved from last orders after new owners stepped in.
Just weeks after the Evening Post revealed Preston's community pubs were closing at a rate of one a month, new bosses have moved in to resurrect The Plungington and the New Fleece.
Graham Rowson, landlord of the Plungington Tavern in Plungington Road, has taken over The Plungington on the corner of Plungington Road and Lytham Road.
Bravo Inns has bought the Fleece in Meadow Street, Deepdale, which shut last August.
Graham, who turned around the near-derelict Plungington Tavern, said he planned to use his experience to build up the premises to be a successful community pub on the border of Fulwood and Plungington.
He said: "We are the only pub in Preston with a bowling green and my vision is for a big outside facility.
"We will have crown green bowls, French boules, an outside bar and a barbecue area, which will be all covered and heated.
"We are hoping to encourage local people and businesses to come down and use the pub for team building and functions – it will work for family gatherings too.
"First and foremost, it is a community pub. It has gone downhill over the last few years and it needs lots of love and attention but it has great potential."
Across town, newly formed pub company Bravo Inns will be reopening the New Fleece.
The pub closed its doors last August but Bravo is spending 100,000 to bring it back to life.
Last orders have been called at the Red Rose pub in St Paul's Square, Preston. Preston Council has received a planning application to convert the former pub into eight self-contained apartments.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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