Update December 2015:

On the 27th November I met with the owners of the New White Bull. They made it very clear that the application to demolish the NWB is a device to help 'reinforce their position' and little more. I will be very honest, I did not like their attitude and was puzzled as to why they wanted to meet me. They are very cross to have failed to achieve planning permission. They are adamant they had no idea that the NWB was a much loved pub that many locals wanted to save. They are equally adamant they had no idea the Blue Monkey wanted to buy it from Greene King. 

The owners are experienced businessmen who have taken a gamble that has so far not paid off. That is their choice. Instead of pursuing their project on behalf of the Co-Op they should, in my view, cut their losses and sell to the Blue Monkey Brewery.  

As you may imagine I didn't flinch in giving them my advice. 

I had to disabuse them of their insistence that I have influence over officials and councillors at Broxtowe Borough Council - I often wish I did. 

However, I very much hope Broxtowe's leadership and officers will remain resolute and see this application to demolish for exactly what it is. A device to put pressure on the Council to allow planning permission for a change of use. 

November 2015

It has come to my attention that the new owners of the New White Bull have decided to demolish the pub and this action could well be imminent. 

For a number of years now I have been involved in a campaign to stop the pub’s previous owners, Greene King, from selling the pub to a local developer who planned to turn the building into flats and a Co-Op convenience store.  This is a local campaign, organised and run by nearby residents. 

It is my firm belief that the New White Bull should remain a pub.  There are already a good number of convenience stores in the area and the New White Bull Pub has always been seen as a meeting point and community space in a part of Broxtowe with no identifiable centre.  For these reasons, the New White Bull was listed as an Asset of Community Value on the Register of Community Assets last year.  Although Giltbrook does already have one pub, the Hayloft, this is altogether a different type of premises.  I have been a customer at both the Hayloft and the New White Bull and the former is more of a restaurant and sports bar whilst the latter is a pub.

Blue Monkey Brewery continue to see the pub as a viable, important expansion to their local business and I know that they have submitted an offer which was recently rejected.

Despite recent offers by Blue Monkey, the owner has refused to sell because he sees a way of further increasing his profits through an agreement-to-lease with a major supermarket chain and also by creating two apartments.  My fear is that if this change of use is allowed to go ahead, it will be to the great detriment of the local community. 

 Please do contact my office if you wish to help save the pub and I will do all I can.