Express & Star

Landmark Bearwood pub up for sale with £375k price tag

A landmark pub which suddenly closed down earlier this year is going under the hammer for £375,000.

Published

The Abbey Hotel in Bearwood was shut in February - much to the dismay of hundreds of campaigners who had fought to save it.

More than 2,000 people signed a petition calling for the pub to remain open, but owners Stonegate closed it down regardless.

Now it is up for auction with a guide price of 'in excess of £375,000'.

Its listing states: "The property may be suitable for continuance of its existing use or a number of alternative uses subject to obtaining the necessary planning consents.

"All initial enquiries should be directed to Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council panning department."

Julie Birley, who fought to save the pub, said the campaign group had got an Asset of Community Value order which meant it would have to stay as either a pub or restaurant.

The teaching assistant said she and other pub-goers were keeping their fingers crossed that whoever buys it at the auction tomorrow will do the right thing for the community.

Mrs Birley said: "At the moment we're a bit unsure about what's happening or who's interested.

"But because of the Asset of Community Value that means it has to stay as a pub or somewhere with a food area.

"We've noticed as friends recently that things we would've been celebrating at the pub haven't been happening - like parties or watching the football.

"If it wasn't for the Abbey some of our closest friendships wouldn't have been developed.

"We wait and see what happens at the auction and hopefully it's good news - but we'll just have to wait.

"We're all keeping our fingers crossed that whoever buys it does it for the right reasons.

"Then we'll have to take it from there."

When it closed, The Abbey became the latest Bearwood pub to face the axe after the Thimblemill was demolished to make way for a care home.

Management at the Abbey announced the pub's sudden closure on its Facebook page and said it was 'a very sad time'.

At the time the pub said on its Facebook page: "It is with great sadness that we have to announce the the Abbey has been sold and will be closing at the end of February.

"As you can appreciate this is a very sad time for us all and we would be grateful if we could just have a few days to let the news sink in.

"We would like to thank all our loyal customers and the lovely people of Bearwood for there support. Anyone who has a function booked with us we are deeply sorry."

The auction takes place at 11am tomorrow in the Holte Suite at Villa Park.

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