Fakenham's oldest surviving pub may have served its last pint unless publicans step forward to buy it ahead of developers, property agents said last night.
The Star pub on Oak Street, built in 1600, closed earlier this year and is on the market at £215,000 - low enough to have tempted developers and retailers.Agents at London-based Paramount Investments said the company would prefer to sell to a new pub landlord but would consider other buyers.
A spokesman for North Norfolk District Council said new planning guidelines did not prevent any new buyer changing the use of a redundant pub as long as it was not the last of its kind within a settlement - but stressed each application would be considered on merit.
Paramount managing director Mark Greig said: "If no publican or pub company steps forward to save the Star, it may cease to be a pub at all."A company spokesman added: "Paramount is a company which specialises in selling these buildings, so for that reason it has an interest in pubs staying as pubs, particularly one with this history.
But given a reasonable amount of time we would have to look at other sectors."Sue Coleman, chairman of the Norfolk and Norwich Licensed Victuallers Association, said dire trading conditions were causing five pubs every day to close across the country, but urged potential owners to consider saving The Star.
Pub closed sign "I would certainly encourage anyone to have a look at the place," she said. "Now should be a good time to buy because prices are at their lowest."It would be a terrible shame for a pub of that age to no longer exist."
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