Residents of a market town on the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire border have shared their sadness at the closure of a nearby award-winning pub, describing it as “awful”. Those living close to the Hole In The Wall pub, a Camra award-winning historic pub in Long Eaton, have described its closure as a real shame - and they've expressed concerns that the former watering hole could become housing.
The Regent Street venue last served a pint in September 2022 and has been sitting empty for the last eight months. It has now been put on the market as a freehold, accepting offers in the region of £300,000.
The traditional pub has "development potential" to become multiple flats or a large house in multiple occupation (HMO), according to estate agents Wallace Jones. But residents have expressed their concerns about any future developments.
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One local Long Eaton resident said: “It’s a shame that it’s closed. It was a bit old but it was a nice pub.
“The guy who used to run it was there for about 40 years - the closure is awful. It was a nice place and there was never any trouble and it was quite well visited too.”
Terry Flynn, a retiree who lives close to the pub added: “I would not be happy if it was turned into flats. They’re making other places flats too.”
Regent Street was once thriving with pubs and bars, but the closure of The Hole In The Wall is not the first pub on the street to shut. Brennan’s Bar, which used to be joined with the Hole in the Wall, was put up for auction in January 2022, with planning permission to be turned into nine flats.
The 69-year-old retiree added: “There are a lot of pubs closing now. I think it would have been nice if it could stay as a pub, it’s a cosy pub.”
Craig O’Connor, 40, who works as a supervisor and also lives close to the Hole In The Wall said: “I’ve been in there a few times and it was a nice and friendly pub. It’s a shame that it’s closing because I’ve been in there with my family and things like that.
“Now it’s shutting like Brennan’s too. It just feels like we’re losing a lot of pubs and it’s a shame.” While local residents wished the pub could remain a form of a community venue, local businesses felt housing developments could help boost business.
A worker at Holmes Cuban Cigars and Tobacconists said: “I suppose for me, as a business, flats and HMOs are not a bad thing but it's swings and roundabouts really. But I do think we have enough flats, I think it would be nice to have some more restaurants in the area, sort of like Beeston.”
This was echoed by other businesses close by. “We’re alright with it really.” added Richard Eoyer, 44, who works at Paul Walker Butchers, in Market Place, just a short walk from the Hole In The Wall.
“It’s sort of in the back of our car park. Having flats and HMOs can help our business,”
The pub was originally known as the Regent Inn but was later renamed the Hole In The Wall. According to the pub's website, the new name was chosen due to the building featuring an original serving hatch once used to sell flagons of ale to the lace workers from the nearby Regent Mill.
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