Holmpton Parish Council is hosting a residents’ meeting on Tuesday April 11 to discuss a community purchase of the George and Dragon, which has been closed since before the pandemic.

Residents, local groups and organisations of Holmpton are invited to attend the meeting, which will begin at 7.30pm at Homlpton Village Hall on School Lane.

On March 14, the owner of the pub attended a meeting of the council and said he was prepared to sell the licensed premises to the village for £200,000. There was too little time to place the item on the agenda for that meeting, so the proposal will be discussed fully on April 11.

The owner sent the following message to the parish council: “The George and Dragon has been on the market for sale as a whole lot for six months with no interest. We are now selling the two residential properties separate to the pub. The pub has been revalued at £225,000.

“The residents of Holmpton have an opportunity to unite and work together and purchase the pub as a community pub. We are prepared to sell the pub to the village for £200,000. Several objectors said it could be a successful pub with the right landlord, so here is an opportunity for the residents of the village to consider.”

The council says the purpose of the parish meeting on April 11 is to discuss the opportunity openly and gauge interest. This will be a public meeting, meeting – not the council’s, although the council will set the agenda.