THE TEMPLE Inn pub in Liss Forest has been saved.
Red Mist Leisure has bought the pub, which has been closed since January 2017, and unveiled plans to invest £300,000 in its refurbishment and create 20 jobs.
Work is starting to improve the Temple Inn, and is due to completed for opening this summer.
Red Mist Leisure has bought the pub from Fuller’s following steps to save it taken by Liss Forest Residents’ Association, which formed a task force called Save Our Temple Inn (SOTI).
Red Mist Leisure managing director Mark Robson said: “It’s been a long road and none of this would have been possible without the positive support from the villagers of Liss Forest who have demonstrated from the get-go that they wanted to keep a pub in the heart of the village that they could all love, frequent and be proud of. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the community to ensure that the Temple Inn is everything we all want it to be.”
East Hampshire district councillor for the Hangers and Forest Ward Keith Budden said: “It’s fantastic news and I’m really pleased. It’s been a long time coming but we have finally got there.
“I’m really looking forward to it reopening and it’s great news for Liss Forest that the pub has been saved.
“I believe Red Mist was always the preferred outcome, so it is great that they have reached an agreement with Fuller’s.
“This means Liss Forest has a community pub, which will be a good place for community groups to meet.
“The SOTI group has done a tremendous amount of work and all credit to Matt Enticknap and the committee for their dogged determination.
“I recognise there will be commercial pressures for Red Mist, but they feel like a very good match.”