The Bright Star pub in Peters Green is being marketed for sale as a residential property. The pub has been a favourite spot for locals for over 150 years, and its closure would be a major loss to the community.

Viscious circle. Like all pubs, the Bright Star suffered during COVID and since, and may therefore be considered as no longer viable. Whilst the gardens have been well maintained, the internal space has not been updated for many years, and the recent conversion of the saloon bar to residential use severely limits the available space, forcing drinkers, diners, darts players, and those enjoying sport on TV, into close proximity. The food offering appears to have declined with the drop in footfall, and is considered by some to be  erratic. Whilst the pub hosts dart nights and quizzes, in the recent past, it has not been actively marketed in the same way as other local establishments. As a result, profits have been adversely affected, which makes it even harder  for the pub to justify further investment. None of this is intended to be critical of the current publican, who as a one man band, has tried to keep the flag flying.

It doesn’t need to be like this. Locals recall when the pub was a bustling community hub, attended regularly by local villagers, farmers, shooters, as well as cyclists, walkers, bikers, drivers, and people from the surrounding area, looking for a hearty welcome, decent pub grub, and a few drinks in a quintessentially English pub. We see no reason why this should not be the case again, albeit with some reinvention and investment in the bar area, food offering, and with careful marketing and strong customer advocacy. Locals have made a wide variety of suggestions, including additional use as a coffee shop, farm shop, and restaurant, and have offered to help out with events, redecoration, etc.

Listing as an Asset of Community Value. To give us a chance to engage with parties that may be prepared to invest in the future of the pub, rather than see it lost forever to residential use, we want to see it listed as an Asset of Community Value. We want our Parish Council to be fully aware of the strength of feeling in the local community, and beyond, for saving the Bright Star.

Please sign our petition now to help save the Bright Star.