A Bristol landlady says she is heartbroken after allegedly being told the pub she has run for the past four years, which is also her home, is being demolished.
The Giant Goram is the last remaining pub in Lawrence Weston but it will close after last orders on September 12 so it can reportedly be knocked down to make way for flats, Bristol Live understands.
Beverly Gardner-Ponting, who took over the reins of the pub in 2015, said she was given just 28 days notice of the closure and is now in the process of looking for a new job and a new home.
The 57-year-old said she was 'mortified' when informed of the plans by the pub's owners, the Wellington Pub Company, which is managed by Criterion Asset Management.
'Absolutely heart-wrenching'
"I was given no indication or warning before I was told the pub will be closing," she told Bristol Live.
"I got a call from the area manager of Criterion last Thursday and my notice was handed to me on Friday. After that I found out that the building will be demolished.
"I was in shock for a couple of days after that. It's absolutely heart-wrenching not only for me but for my customers too as it's the last pub in Lawrence Weston.
"I'll be able to find another job but where will people go now that there's no pub in the area?
"I've essentially been made homeless and was given just 28 days to find a new place to live. I'm now having to pack up both my home and my business."
Bristol Live understands the pub was sold by Fleurets to a construction company, although this has not been confirmed.
Pub is a 'pillar of the community'
Beverly said business was slow when she took over the pub but has steadily picked up since then, with 2019 proving to be the busiest year so far.
Some of her older customers have been frequenting the free house since the first day the building became a pub back in 1959, she said, and it is those who she worries about most after the 'pillar of the community' is gone.
Twice a week the pub's skittle alley is transformed into a community project which offers under privileged children the chance to fix bicycles. Beverly said she is also sad to see the loss of this service.
In January 2018, ITV reported that the Giant Goram was one of eight Bristol pubs to be given protected status by Bristol City Council, which should theoretically have safeguarded it.
But that proved to be in vain as the pub will close just less than two years later.
Bristol City Council have confirmed a building's listed status is taken into account when any planning application is submitted. However, this does not prevent the use of the building from being changed and the onus is on the landlord to hep protect them.
A local resident who did not want to be named said everyone in the area is 'completely gutted' as there was once five pubs in Lawrence Weston, but after the departure of the Giant Goram there will be none.
Bristol Live has contacted Criterion Asset Management and is awaiting a response.
