PLANS for a consortium of Buriton residents to buy a village pub are being discussed since it was placed in receivership by the current owner.

The Village Inn, formerly the Maple Inn, on the crossroads in the village, was placed in receivership by Bob Camping, trading as Goosebump Weddings Ltd, on December 9.

The pub is registered as an Asset of Community Value, and a group of Buriton residents are working as a Community Interest Group (CIG) on a bid to buy the pub.

They have until April 6 to submit their bid, and guidelines say the owner of a registered Community Asset cannot exchange contracts, or enter into a binding deal to exchange contracts, except to a CIG.

The pub was linked to Mr Camping’s wedding reception business in the Manor Barn, in the courtyard of Buriton Manor, next to the village’s church, and it was used to accommodate wedding reception guests.

But on Thursday, January 28, East Hampshire District Council revoked the Manor Barn’s premises licence. Mr Camping didn’t appear at the hearing, but has 21 days from the date he receives the revocation notice to appeal.

After the hearing, it was estimated that up to 50 couples had paid deposits to Mr Camping to reserve dates for wedding receptions at the barn and accommodation at the pub.

The father of one bride said the group estimated between them they had paid Mr Camping around £200,000, money they were uncertain of getting back.

Mr Camping lives in Buriton Manor and said he would repay the couples once the manor and barn was sold.

The venue was advertised with property agents Knight Frank of London with an asking price of £6.7m.

As the Post went to press (Tuesday evening) on the Right Move website it was stated that the property may have been sold, or removed from the market.