Locals could see Norwich pub reopen as squatter landlords move out
Punters in Tuckswood can expect to see their pub re-opening soon after squatting landlords were moved into a new home.
Locals of the Maid Marian, on Ipswich Road, Norwich, lost their pub when previous tenants, Andrew and Lynne Southworth, locked the doors and declared squatters' rights during a rent row with the owners.
But today, pub owners Enterprise Inns confirmed they were looking for new landlords following the news that Mr and Mrs Southworth had moved to a property at Cherry Close, off Hall Road in Norwich.
A spokesman for Enterprise Inn said: 'We are in discussion with several parties and hope to have the pub back open in the near future.'
The Maid Marian closed at the start of January when the couple, living above the pub with their two children, placed notices on the doors and windows downloaded from the Advisory Service for Squatters website.
You may also want to watch:
The posters declared the family's right to live there and stated that if the owners want to remove them 'they must issue a claim in the County Court or the High Court, or produce a written statement or certificate in terms of S.12A Criminal Law Act, 1977 (as inserted by Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, 1994)'.
Since then, Mr Southworth, 35, has appeared before Norwich Magistrates for offences committed while he was landlord of the pub.
Most Read
- 1 Tenant's despair as council fixes his windows by screwing them shut
- 2 'Our lives are being destroyed': Neighbours' despair over noisy students
- 3 Pupil taken to hospital after incident at Thorpe St Andrew school
- 4 'Eyesore' bus won't be removed despite neighbours' pleas
- 5 Man killed after collision with double-decker bus on A146 named
- 6 Nearly 4,000 people wait for council homes - but fewer than 200 available
- 7 Huge Gothic home on edge of city cemetery is for sale for £1.2m
- 8 Pet owner's fury as mystery neighbour tries to claim her cat as their own
- 9 Changes in gambling habits see city bookies shutting up shop
- 10 Neighbours' terror as bleeding man found in garden after street fight
He admitted five charges of contravening food hygiene regulations and one of selling food past its use-by date.
Victoria MacDonald, Lakenham councillor, said: 'I am pleased to hear that the local people are getting their pub back, but I hope the business development manager at Enterprise Inns will be providing support to the outgoing tenants.'
The Evening News has been urging people to return to pubs in our Love your Local campaign.
To see more stories from the campaign visit www.eveningnews24.co.uk/loveyourlocal.
Do you have story about your local pub? Contact Ben Woods on 01603 772439 or email ben.woods@archant.co.uk
