“Having read the Council's report, they did investigate whether the pub itself was viable. The landlord apparently had plenty of interest, but of course given the way the pub seems to have been run in the last few years it wouldn't, on first impression, have been very attractive to potential buyers. Both the Council and the Planning Inspector found that the owner had used a business model which significantly contributed to the pub's current lack of viability. They mention an independent assessment that found the pub could perform significantly better with a better / more appropriate business model.

Also, those who know Shawell will know that the owner sold off the beer garden a few years ago and built a new house on the site. This would have meant potential customers would have been less likely to visit. The pub itself is very attractive, but there's nowhere nice to sit outside!

Eastonian hit the nail on the head actually - from reading the Inspector's decision, the owner couldn't prove the pub as a facility was not viable; he could only prove that his business model was not viable. That seems to me the crucial difference - the pub used to be successful and popular with the locals, all the way up until 2005, but the owner made some major changes that really put the locals off, which then cut off the main source of his trade. Also, the Inspector's decision mentions that the pub was shut for two years because of the owner's health problems.

Some comments here are a bit ignorant and harsh on the Council & Inspector! The Council's report and the Inspector's decision both seem very comprehensive to me... it seems a bit wide of the mark to accuse the Council of being on another planet! I really think clagnutt is on another planet - my sympathy is with the the dozens of local households who would like their pub back - they wouldn't appreciate your comments!!”

“i could go with freddy a little way.maybe the owner is a waste of space .maybe.i have no idea,but did anyone check to see if it is a viable business?was there a crush at the door to buy it as a business?did the licenced victuallers association have a comment?personally,i have not been to shawell for many years,but the idea of passing trade and tourists i think is a bit too far fetched .come on council...own up !”

“Every prior commentor here seems to lack a basic understanding of the planning process - the landlord has to demonstate that the pub is not viable and could not be viable. One landlord's running of a business may cause a business to fail, while another individual might make a very successful business of it, which adds greatly to the vitality of the village, gives locals a place to meet and socialise and benefits the rural economy, providing a place for locals and tourists to stop and spend their money, creating jobs etc. You all seem to simply have ingrained prejudice towards local councils / the government and lack an understanding of national planning issues! Save your rants for the daily mail letters page please!”

“come on council......you want it as a pub..........you buy it!simples!
nice place for a few meetings.if you cannot find the funds for it,why expect the person who knows how viable it is to keep it ?”

“..breweries will sometimes buy pubs in difficult times...subsidise the running cost with other pubs in the brewery group...then factor on in a better economic climate..Not easy however..putting the proposal to carlsberg..everards..etc without compromising on price.hope that helps.”

“It may well be the only pub in the village but if people don't use it, then it's clearly surplus to requirements. Better it becomes a house than a derelict building or maybe the government inspector would like to buy it and help the landlord out?”

“The fact that it is the only pub in the village is irrelevant. It seems to be abundantly clear that not enough of Shawell's residents use it.

I wonder if the landlord has proved the business is not successful and what does he mean by not successful? If he's making a loss and can prove with no upturn in sight he needs to make that clear.”

“it doesnt make money , so what are the council actually saying ? it cant carry on as a business thats a fact . so what was their suggestion ? nothing ! just a statement that it was the only pub in the village . so what if it is , the business isnt viable . once again , the council are completely out of touch with reality . looks like a man after 15 years hard graft will watch his efforts fall apart . can the leicester mercury ask the council and inspector what the next move is as the villagers obviously dont want a pub else they would use it ? my sympathies are with the landlord , he must wonder what planet these people are on .”

“So, if no-one wants to buy it as a pub and the council won't allow it to convert into much needed housing (must be much needed, as developers are banging planning applications at a fair rate of knots) then do we assume that everyone will be happy for it to fall into dereliction? Am I wrong in understanding the Governments latest planning edict... That the presumption was to allow for applications for new homes to be built? Or does this only apply to green field sites & not (as in this case) brown field sites?”