Local MP Sir Jeremy Wright has met with the company that owns a popular community pub, weeks after the previous landlord was removed.

Over 1,000 people signed a petition to keep publican Keith Marsden at the Granville Arms after he was given until mid-August to leave by landlord Stonegate group.

A new tenant had already been found for the Wellesbourne Road inn, but locals rallied around the Mr Marsden following the news.

In a statement to the BBC, Stonegate said it was not able to reach a new agreement with Mr Marsden, meaning a new publican was found and an exit date agreed.

And while the pub is currently temporarily closed as the new tenants set up for reopening, Sir Jeremy has met with Stonegate to discuss the future of the inn.

"I understand the concerns raised by a number of residents in Barford over the termination of tenure of the most recent publican of The Granville Arms," he said in a statement.

"Cllr Peter Phillips and I have met with the managing director of Stonegate Group to discuss the pub's future and to impress that it is imperative that the pub retains the strong and successful community function and atmosphere which has been created by its most recent publican.

"We have an undertaking from Stonegate Group that what the previous landlord has done can continue with the new publican and we hope to meet them shortly to discuss their plans."

advertisement

Rebecca Pull - who launched the online petition - called on people to "act fast" to keep Mr Marsden in his post earlier this summer.

Writing on the online petition she said: "Stonegate don't care about the village or what the village wants. 

"They are a greedy and dishonest company who mess around pub owners with leases."

She added: "Stonegate see the '£' signs and go with the highest bidder.

"There are a number of us that want to help keep Keith at the Granville and not ruin what he's worked so hard to create. 

"We are willing to fight Stonegate and the incoming company."

Kenilworth Nub News has approached Stonegate for comment.