The Claregate is saved as Marston's pull out of deal to sell Wolverhampton pub
Under-threat Wolverhampton pub, The Claregate, will remain as a pub and will not be replaced with a care home, after Marston's pulled out of a sale deal.
Campaigners who battled to save The Claregate say they are 'absolutely delighted' after brewery bosses pulled the plug on the deal today.
The future of the pub in Codsall Road had been under threat after Marston's unveiled plans to sell the site to a care home developer.
Marston's spokesman Ed Hancock said this afternoon : "We have withdrawn from negotiations for the sale of the Claregate.
"We can confirm it will continue to run as a pub and we are now reviewing options for its future."
The news sparked celebrations among hundreds of regulars who had fought to save the pub.
Robin Hewitt, who founded the Save Our Claregate Group, said: "It's absolutely fantastic news, the best we could have wished for the area.
"We've worked so hard since we heard about Marstons plans for the pub to help save it and it's brilliant that is what we have achieved.
"The pub is massively popular around here. It has been making profits and is well used in the community. To see it go would have been hugely upsetting and a huge blow.
"Hopefully the work of the campaign group and news of it in the media have helped Marston's change their minds. It's a pub which has great potential to get even better.
"I'm sure there will be many celebratory drinks tonight as a result."
Mr Hewitt added that a 'formal celebration' was likely to take place at the pub next week.
Crown Care's Plans to bulldoze the pub and replace it with a sprawling 76-bed 'super' care home were met with anger from residents when they were unveiled at a consultation event last week.
The pub was built in 1935 and served as Wolves' legend Billy Wright's local when it was known as The Fieldhouse in the 1950s.
