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CAMRA - North Hampshire Branch This Page:           Campaigns - George's Bar Last Updated: 16th May 2004   George's Bar, Basingstoke A CONSPIRACY THEORY, OR...     So one of the town's most historic pubs is to be lost, only to be returning as a mid-rate pizza joint. So how was this application missed by those who care about the town's historic character and the few remaining original pubs. Well, Basingstoke Council has a lot to answer for as well as the planning profession for allowing pubs and restaurants to be considered in the same category of use. In February this year an application was submitted for what seemed to be a fairly minor and innocuous change to Georges Bar. It was by AVK Central (I'll come to that soon) and was for a single-storey rear extension and a change to the frontage. It was advertised as such and permission was granted at the end of April. Anyone who cared about it as one of the town's last remaining historical pubs had no tip-off as to the proposed use. Why? Because Basingstoke Council had listed the applicant as AVK. In fact on checking their records at the planning office all their documents refer to AVK Central. But it has just come to light what that was really meant to be. Someone, somewhere had led to the wrong applicant being listed. It was, as we now know, 'ASK', a well-known pizza chain and on checking the plans it is clear that the pub will be no more! Of course had 'ASK' been advertised as the applicant then we would have had some idea of the intentions. Indeed records show the applicant's agent originally writing to the Council saying "We enclose on behalf of our client ASK Restaurants an application seeking planning permission...". Was the change to AVK a deliberate attempt to throw us off the scent? Why wasn't 'ASK Restaurants' ever used? Was this an attempt to deflect the uproar that would have inevitably ensued had the real intentions been known? Was this a change of use through stealth? Given the history, perhaps. In 1989 the then owners Courage submitted an application to demolish the George (also then known as the Hole in the Wall) and construct retail on the ground floor with offices above. CAMRA and others immediately went into action. Postcards were printed and petitions raised. Notices were put along London Street with postcard dispensers. Basingstoke's MP was contacted and opposed the loss of this fine 15th century pub. Such was the massive strength of opinion that nearly 4000 objections were lodged. Rightly the application was refused and the George subsequently underwent internal cosmetic changes to become what is there now. Or was until the demolition workers moved in a fortnight ago. Perhaps that someone, somewhere, didn't want the same level of objection. John Buckley 1989 Save The George Action Group     Write to Us - Please let us have your comments: Contact Us.   << BACK TO CAMPAIGNS ^ BACK TO TOP ^

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