Barred from the pub they are buying! (From Bournemouth Echo)

Barred from the pub they are buying!

10:21am Wednesday 9th August 2006 in

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BARRED from their own pub - that's the fate of a group of villagers who claim the landlord took umbrage at their plot to buy the freehold.

Tenant landlord Peter Miller, of The Anchor at Shapwick, is said to have taken offence to the coup and, even though they're each about to own a share in the pub, has allegedly told some of the villagers they can no longer drink there.

Bernie Kuflik, chairman of the consortium buying the freehold, said: "It is a rather ridiculous situation - I do see the funny side in owning a pub that you're not allowed to drink in. But it is rather unprofessional.

"We've been barred for two months now - I've missed the pub, my wife and I are very social and used to go there four times a week. And I miss my regular game of dominoes."

The retired airline pilot said the pub's fortunes had been up and down, with some fearing it was only a matter of time before it was sold to developers and replaced with housing.

He added: "Some villagers have started drinking elsewhere because they're not happy with the way the pub is run.

"Peter put the leasehold on the market in January without telling anyone. We didn't want the pub to be run by someone from outside the village so we decided to take some control. If we buy the pub we can make sure it's run as we want it to be."

The pub was previously owned by Hall and Woodhouse and was sold to a company in Jersey in 1999. They retained the freehold but sold the lease to Mr Miller.

Now the villagers have had their offer of just under £500,000 to buy the freehold accepted. They've formed a limited company, which currently consists of 17 shareholders, and hope Mr Miller will agree to sell them his leasehold.

But if he doesn't, the rule remains that a publican can bar whoever he likes - even if they happen to be his landlord. Mr Miller declined to comment.