Regulars raise a glass to celebrate as The Claregate pub is saved
More than 100 people joined together and raised a glass to celebrate a famous pub being saved from the bulldozers.
The future of The Claregate in Wolverhampton had been under threat after brewery Marston's unveiled plans to sell the site to a care home developer.
But after much opposition from neighbours and customers, brewery bosses pulled the plug on the deal earlier this month and confirmed it would continue to be run as a pub.
On Saturday a celebration was held with revellers enjoying a disco and buffet at the pub in Codsall Road.
Mark Hewitt, from the Save Our Claregate campaign group, said: "It was really good, there was a huge turnout with over 100 people, the place was packed.
"It was a get-together for the community to celebrate the fact that the pub has been saved and for the hardworking people who have campaigned for it. It was a really good party atmosphere."
"It was really important as we were fighting against a big company and developers and when you get a result like this it is absolutely amazing.
"Everyone is so pleased there their community pub is still there and looks like it is going to be there for a while yet."
The pub was built in 1935 and served as Wolves' legend Billy Wright's local when it was known as The Fieldhouse in the 1950s.
Care home firm Crown Care wanted to turn The Claregate into a 76-bed 'super' care home under a scheme which would create 100 jobs.
But the plans were met with anger by residents when there were unveiled at a consultation event earlier this month. During a two-hour consultation event, many claimed its possible arrival could tear the community apart.
Crown Care said the proposed care home was in an ideal location as it would create much-needed care provision for the elderly on a site where there are good transport links nearby and shops for potential residents to visit.
Campaigners had submitted an application to Wolverhampton City Council to register the pub as an asset of community value, in a bid to block any development for at least six months.
Developers have since said that they are now looking for an alternative site in Wolverhampton.
The campaign had been backed by Tettenhall District Community Council, which vowed to try to protect the area's historical buildings as part of the Local Neighbourhood Plan.
In 2013, Tesco built an Express store on the pub's car park despite two petitions and several hundred objections against the scheme.
At the time Marston's vowed to give the pub a revamp as part of the deal.
