PUBLICANS are set to hold a meeting with their new owners following a change of hands at the Nags Head.

The future of the popular West Reading drinking hole was left uncertain after the sudden news that current freeholders Admiral Taverns had sold off the pub.

The town's CAMRA branch has called for a rally to arms to ensure the boozer remained open but licensees at the Russell Street site said they were not worried.

The five staff who share the running of the pub will meet with their new private owner on Monday to discuss the move.

Ted Allnutt, one of the group who have been licensees for almost nine years, said: "There is really not much we can say other than we have been advised that the freeholder has changed.

"We have a 20 year lease and that hasn't changed, this is just the freehold."

Staff said the news had come as shock but without further details they remained sceptical the decision would have any impact on the day to day running of the pub.

Quinten Taylor, vice-chairman of Reading and Mid Berks CAMRA, said: "Reading & Mid Berkshire Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) are hugely concerned about this clandestine sale, as the building is in a desirable location close to the the town centre and has a footprint that would make it attractive to a rapacious developer looking to erect flats on the site, a fate that has befallen numerous pubs across the country in recent years.

"Indeed, flats are being erected next door to the pub itself in a separate development. As we now, property prices in RG1 are booming and there is an immediate suspicion that this is the driver behind the sale.

"Reading & Mid Berks CAMRA will be filing an Asset of Community Value nomination to Reading BC ASAP and it goes without saying that we will be fighting to ensure that the pub and the licensees continue to operate successfully long into the future. We have been told the new owners will be visiting the pub on Monday."