A WELL-KNOWN pub in Poole, which closed temporarily earlier this year, has now re-opened under new management – but a question mark remains over the building’s future.

Dorset-based brewery Hall and Woodhouse revealed plans to demolish The Sloop and build a block of flats in its place at a public consultation in September.

At the time, commercial manager Chris Chapman said the company did not feel it was “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.”

He cited rising costs, including wage inflation rates and maintenance bills, as reasons the pub’s future was unviable.

The previous landlords of The Sloop left in February after more than three years of running the historic pub. It was closed briefly in January for a refurb.

However, Hall and Woodhouse has brought in a new business partner to run the pub, which re-opened at the end of March.

The Daily Echo contacted the brewery for a comment and to find out whether the re-development plans are still in the pipeline. However, they did not respond at the time of going to press.

Locals turned out in force to the public consultation when Hall and Woodhouse presented its plans to knock down The Sloop, which it has owned since 1898, and build a mixed-use development of 40 flats and ground floor commercial space.

Regulars of the pub described it as “the heart of the community” and said the landlords had turned the establishment around.

Poole councillor Mark Howell described the pub as “iconic” and “part of the history of Poole”.

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

Hall and Woodhouse said these partners had all struggled to make a viable profit despite a major investment in The Sloop a few years ago.