Get some Jollydarity in your life

Adam Hewitt • Published 24 Jan 2010 10:00 0 Comments

PUB campaigners are celebrating after the Jolly Anglers was granted a licence, bringing it one step closer to re-opening.

Campaigning supporters celebrated the verdict and the news that the Kennetside pub should now be just weeks away from re-opening with Caversham couple Keith and Susan Bates at the helm.

The support group, dubbed Jollydarity, formed when the pub closed suddenly in June and former owners Enterprise Inns slapped a restrictive covenant on the premises, banning it from being a pub.

Members spoke up in favour of the pub at the licensing panel hearing on Tuesday last week.

Founder Cathy Marsden was among the speakers and she said afterwards: "Thank you to everyone who turned up for meetings, read and wrote emails, and generally took time out in their busy lives to fight for this important community resource.

"More and more people live on their own and don't get many opportunities to relax and meet others in a social setting. It isn't healthy for people to stay indoors on their own watching telly all the time.

"People need people, and the Jolly Anglers provides an environment where people from the local community can meet up and get to know each other." The pub was denied the late opening hours it wanted after complaints from neighbours backed up by deputy Labour leader Cllr Tony Page. But it will still open until 11pm on weeknights, except Fridays and Saturdays when it will be 11.30pm.

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