A campaign’s been launched to get another St Denys pub registered as an Asset of Community Value (ACV), which would give the community the chance to buy it should it ever be put up for sale by its current owners.

 

As we originally reported on March 3, The South Western closed unexpectedly that weekend “until further notice”.

“Local residents are putting forward the paperwork to get it registered as an Asset of Community Value,” Portswood Cllr John Savage (Lab), pictured, told That’s Solent. “That puts a hold on any potential development of it for a minimum of six months. Which means that local people can put together a plan to try to keep it open.”

“This is very important to the local community – it’s a mixed pub: you get people of a wide variety of ages. You get young people. You get elderly people here. Bands play. The upstairs area very often is used by various clubs who use it as their meeting place. It’s a real kind of hub.”

Savage told us that Southampton City council had on Wednesday “unanimously voted to support working with the community to have the South Western registered as an Asset of Community Value”.

Owners Ei Publican Partnerships – formerly Enterprise Inns – previously told us The South Western had closed “due to the publican’s decision to cease trading”.

The pub’s listed on their website with a guide rent of £40,000 a year. Ei said that if anyone was interested in “taking on this community pub, or want further information” they could contact the company.

There’s no suggestion the owners are currently looking to sell the property.

Just along the road in St Denys, The Junction was the third city pub to be registered as an ACV in 2016. The other St Denys pub, The Dolphin, also owned by Ei, is not currently registered.

Cllr Savage said anyone wanting to add their name to the list of people supporting the move to put The South Western on the council’s community asset register could email him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• The petition can also be signed iin the Butcher's Hook

Previously - South Western closes 'until further notice'

Links

Full TV interview about South Western with Cllr John Savage - That's Solent's Facebook page
Asset of Community Value Register page on Southampton City Council website, linking to information on how to make a nomination
Assets of community value – Wikipedia
Protect your pubs as an asset of community value – article on Discover Southampton website 22/7/16