Green Man pub to be given new lease of life (From Daily Echo)

Green Man pub to be given new lease of life

10:58am Thursday 26th August 2010 in

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BEER will, once again, flow from the taps of a Winchester pub that closed a year ago.

City publican Jayne Gillin, pictured at the pub, will reopen The Green Man in Southgate Street next month, her third in Winchester.

But the news is less rosy for another historic pub, The Rising Sun in Bridge Street, which remains shut, although three buyers are circling.

Jayne, who also runs The Corner House and St James’ Tavern, said she plans to turn the hostelry into a lounge bar for the over-35s.

She said: “I’m very passionate about pubs and I hate the fact there are seven pubs a day closing in England.

“I’m on a mission to reinvigorate what I think are lovely old pubs.”

Refurbishments are under way, creating a lounge bar downstairs and an eating area above.

Meanwhile, the agent behind marketing The Rising Sun said he is hopeful of having a new tenant by November.

Nick Earee, divisional director of Fleurets, said: “It’s old and historic and it’s got lots of character, but inside it does require investment.”

Mr Earee said he’d had interest from a broad range of people – from those wanting to run it as a traditional pub, to someone who wanted to open an organic restaurant.

He added: “It’s still available but we have three parties who would like to potentially proceed with it.”

He added: “If it’s left much longer it will rot away, but I hope someone’s prepared to take it over and preserve that old part of Winchester.”