ANGRY pub regulars are campaigning to save their local from being turned into housing.

The Avenue in Padwell Road, Southampton is due to close its doors for the last time on September 23 having been put up for sale by Enterprise Inns.

It is understood the pub is to be sold to a property developer.

For sale signs went up outside the pub a month ago to the surprise of landlord Paul Alders, who lives on the premises.

“I’d been out and when I came back the sale boards were up,” he said.

Mr Alders, who was on a short-term contract with Enterprise had revived the business since his arrival in February and had told the pub chain that he was interested in buying the lease and had submitted a business plan.

“I like the pub – it has become my home. Trade had picked up but once the sale signs went up some of our customers started looking for alternative pubs,” he said.

Mr Alders’ stint behind the bar has been longer than many of his recent predecessors. In the last few years the Avenue has suffered from a rapid turnover of managers and has been closed on a number of occasions.

He said the pub had suffered from lack of investment from Enterprise and was in need of refurbishment.

“It’s falling apart. There are holes and leaks and mould all over.”

Condemning Enterprise’s attitude he said: “They don’t care about their pubs and they don’t care about people.”

When the Avenue went on the market Mr Allders put in a bid to buy the freehold but was turned down.

Customer Steve Railton, who is leading the save the Avenue Campaign, has asked the city council to register the pub as a community asset. If the council approved this then campaigners could be given six months to come up with a rival bid for the premises.

When he learned that the pub was to close earlier this week Mr Railton started a petition and collected 180 signatures in just three days.

“The Avenue has been a part of a lot of people’s lives in the area for years and years,” said Mr Railton, a 42-year-old civil servant, who lives two streets away.

“Even if they don’t go to the pub any more they still care about the place. I believe this could be a turning point for the pub - if we can save it.”

He backed the landlord’s bid to buy the pub: “No one’s ever had a chance to own the freehold and run it free from the constraints of the brewery.”

Deric (cor) Payne, pubs officer for the South Hampshire branch of CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) has written to the council in support the Avenue being named a community asset.

“Too many pubs are being closed and once a pub is gone it’s gone forever,” said Mr Payne

Tomorrow (Saturday) the campaigners are holding a Save the Avenue night at the pub when there will be live entertainment and a chance for visitors to add their name to the petition.

We approached Enterprise Inns for a comment but at time of going to press they had not responded.