THE future of a popular Melksham pub is in doubt after the owners put the building and land up for sale.
The West End Inn on Semington Road could soon close its doors for good as owners Greene King put the pub up for sale.
Customers have expressed their disappointment at the potential closure of the pub but have said they weren’t surprised when they heard it was for sale.
One customer said, “I’ve been a regular at this pub for several years and I’m so disappointed that it’s up for sale.
“I don’t think Greene King has put in enough effort to keep it going. Adam, the manager, has done great things and has many ideas, but I don’t think he’s been given the backing he needs. It used to be a very busy pub, lots of families and regular faces here but it dropped significantly about six months ago and it was awful. Then Adam came along and things improved – he’s a good manager.”
Another regular said, “I don’t really mind it being sold as long as it stays as a pub, but I don’t know how likely that is. It’s part of the community, especially for those who can walk here from their homes. It’s a great meeting place and a lot of people will be affected. They’re giving up too soon, there’s loads of things they could change.
“There’s definitely an atmosphere in the pub now, morale is down and people aren’t happy.”
A spokesperson for Greene King said, “As a leading pub operator and brewer, we are committed to running high quality community pubs. To be able to continue to invest in our estate, from time to time we have to make the difficult decision to sell pubs. After much consideration, we have decided to put the West End Pub on the market. In the meantime the pub remains open for business and continues to serve our guests.”