Save The Ashmore Pub!

On Saturday 5th January more than 60 residents and members of the Ashmore Park community gathered in the Ashmore Inn to hear the latest news on the fate of this well known Public House.

The leader of the campaign to save the Ashmore Inn from closure Mr Paddy Brewster said a few words of welcome and set out why the meeting had been called. He explained that The Ashmore Inn had been sold by Marston’s to a property development company New River, who were based in the South of the Country.

He explained that the Ashmore Inn was one of 202 pubs that had been packaged by Marston’s for disposal. New River transformed Public Houses in partnership with Super Markets into local convenience stores for national businesses like Tesco, and Sainsbury’s and into Restaurants.

Paddy further reported that 276 names had been collected electronically and sent to Marston’s opposing the curtailment of the Ashmore Inn as a PH.
CAMRA representatives including Bob Jones the current West Midlands Police Commissioner were also present, Bob also with his CAMRA hat on offered helpful advice.

Local Councillors Phil Bateman, and Councillor Rita Potter, were also supporting the community.

Councillor Phil Bateman asked the meeting if they wanted to fight and save the PH which had been central to life on the estate for more than 50 years? The response was very positive. CAMRA explained how new planning legislation may help preserve the PH, by having the local authority declare it as a ‘Community Asset’.

The meeting thought that it would be a positive step to apply for that listing from the Local Authority.
Both Councillor’s Bateman and Potter agreed to contact the Authority to progress this action.

There are 9 football teams that are run from the PH, also a thriving Pigeon Club, and Darts & Domino teams. The PH is used by a large cross section of the community. A further meeting would be held in a few weeks time to report on progress.