BACKGROUND
The KPH was built in the 1860s and survived in its current form largely unchanged for the best part of a century. In summer 2013, the freehold of the pub (like many pub freeholds) was sold to a development company. The new freeholder is not a pub company like the last, but a property development company.
Within a matter of weeks following its acquisition of the KPH, the new freeholder commenced court proceedings to forfeit the tenant's lease. The KPH has had the same tenant for over 25 years.
Should it fail in its current attempt to obtain early termination of the KPH lease, the new freeholder will refuse to grant a new lease when it comes up for renewal in January 2016.
The new freeholder has no interest in the KPH as a pub – indeed the continued trading of the pub is a major distraction to its agenda. The new freeholder intends to close the KPH at the earliest opportunity in order to implement its development plans.
Recently under new management, the pub has been taken to the hearts of the local community like never before. It's become a friendly hub for the locals and offers a warm welcome to the visitors and tourists that make our area so vibrant.
We have lost so many pubs in walking distance of the KPH to developers already. We are determined that the KPH will not be one of them.
