Pubs for Sale in Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire villagers fear last orders may have been called for the final time at an historic pub.

Paramount pub sales agents said The Swan Inn (pictured) in Alvington was now unlikely to reopen as a pub. Regulars, who held a farewell party before the pub closed last weekend, are upset about losing two neighbouring pubs in a matter of months.

Next week planning officials are due to decide if the nearby Globe Inn can be turned into flats.

London-based Paramount Investments has put the Swan on the market along with 19 others being off-loaded by the Admiral pub chain. Its staff said the £275,000 price tag had tempted residential developers with an interest in converting it.

But they said it was not too late for a would-be landlord to take over the pub, which dates back to the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

They hope the pretty location and history of the Swan may save it from conversion.

Managing director Mark Greig said: "Our hope is that this historic pub can be saved, although realistically if no publican or pub company steps forward to save The Swan Inn, it may cease to be a pub at all."

The firm said entrepreneurs, property developers and even community groups had been taking advantage of rock-bottom prices to snap up closed-down pubs in recent months.

Next week planners look set to give the go-ahead to turn the Globe, which is about a quarter of a mile away from the Swan, into five flats. Officials are recommending councillors approve the plans for the Globe even though it is a listed building in a conservation area.

Coun Alastair Fraser (I, Tidenham) said if the Swan closed for good, the Blacksmiths Arms would be the only pub left in the village.

"It's a real shame that pubs are going out of business, but its a sign of the times," he said.

"There were too many pubs in too small an area to survive a recession and pubs are struggling to survive because of factors outside their control.

"Pubs everywhere face exorbitant rents and cheap supermarket booze."

Paramount is telling would-be buyers that the Swan could carry on as a cafe, shop or pub but would also be suitable for redevelopment subject to planning permission.

The advert says: "This pub could either be converted or redeveloped into residential or mixed use accommodation."