AN “iconic” pub at the "heart of the community” could be demolished for flats after its owners revealed redevelopment plans at a public consultation.

Brewers Hall and Woodhouse have owned The Sloop in Poole since 1898, but are considering calling time on the pub.

The firm are proposing to close The Sloop and obtain planning permission for a mixed use development comprised of commercial ground floor space, with approximately 40 residential units above.

The site at Commercial Road is adjacent to the former Poole Car Centre, where outline planning permission has been gained for a similar mixed development.

Locals turned out in force to the public consultation organised by Hall and Woodhouse at The Sloop on Wednesday evening.

Chris Chapman, commercial manager at Hall and Woodhouse, said: “We have put this consultation on to get an understanding of what the local community want from any future developments on the site.

“At the moment it is a public house and it has been for more than 100 years.

“We don’t feel it is ethically right to continue with a business where both parties, particularly the business partner who is trying to make a living from it, is not getting a profit.

“The issue we have got is with rising costs, like wage inflation rates, food inflation, the costs of maintaining such a big building, we have got to ensure any of our public houses are viable for both us and the business partner.”

The Sloop has been run by six different partners since 2008.

Hall and Woodhouse say these partners have all struggled to make a viable profit despite a major investment in The Sloop a couple of years ago.

Poole councillor Mark Howell attended the consultation event.

“It’s an iconic building and it is part of the history of Poole. Ideally I think it should remain a pub," Cllr Howell said.

“I think it would be a really shame if the frontage of the building was removed.”

Regular users of The Sloop were keen to quiz representatives of Hall and Woodhouse, with many of them saying the current management at the pub has turned the establishment around.

Mike Allen, a lifelong Poole resident, said: “This pub is the heart of the community. They say they are a family brewers, but they are ripping the heart out of the community.”

Alexander Clarke, a local singer who has performed at the pub, said: “What I’m trying to explain to them is they are looking at what has happened over the last eight years.

“It has transformed and from doing gigs in front of eight or nine people, my last one here was packed with more than 100 people.”

“In the last year the landlady Caroline has worked her heart out to turn the pub around."

Helen Roach, a resident in neighbouring North Road for more than 50 years, said: “If they build these flats my current view out my window will be gone and all I will see is a housing block.

“Traffic problems are a concern for me and really it would be such a shame to lose this pub.”

Dave Caswell, also of North Road, said: “I have very mixed feelings about the developments they are suggesting.

“The pub did have some rough times, but is has improved recently and it would be a real shame to see it go.”

Kevin Cole, from Wallisdown who regularly visits the pubs, said: “It’s a nice pub and I just can’t understand the need to build another block of flats with a convenience store or a coffee shop underneath it.”

Rob Elsworth, a lifelong Poole resident, said: “They are taking away pubs, sports centres, youth clubs.

“All of them are getting shut down and soon there will be nowhere for people to meet up and socialise with each other.”