Popular pub to be sold today (From Enfield Independent)

Popular Chase Side pub The Old Sergeant to be sold to Enfield Borough Council for demolition today

11:00am Friday 30th November 2012 in News By Hermione Wright

Pub manager Phil Baker and regular Angela Townsend outside The Old Sergeant

A popular pub is due to be sold ready for demolition today.

The Old Sergeant pub in Chase Side, which has been described by regulars as like an episode of Cheers, will be demolished in the coming months to make way for new houses. 

But cabinet member for finance and property, Councillor Andrew Stafford, stressed that the council had no part in closing the 150-year-old pub in Parsonage Lane, and instead blamed its closure on changing face of the borough.  

The Labour politician said: “The trouble with pubs is that Enfield has a changing demographic. It used to be predominantly white working class people frequenting pubs.

“But we are going through a time of hardship and austerity and people haven’t got the money to go out like they used to.

“It’s the small community pubs that are tending to close down. They just haven’t got the demand any more in the recession.”

The pub, which fell into administration in June under pub operator Sarumdale, will be knocked down along with ten derelict 1950s and 1960s housing blocks to create at least 24 new family homes.

At this stage, it is uncertain whether the properties will be social or private, but Cllr Stafford said it is more likely that private properties will be built.

Pub regular Angela Townsend told the Enfield Independent earlier this month that people in Chase Side have lost “everything” as the Royal British Legion club in Holtwhites Hill was also forced this month to close due to debt.

However, Cllr Stafford said there are many more pubs in the area – including the Jolly Butchers and The Wheatsheaf in Baker Street and The Moon Under Water in Chase Side - that regulars can frequent.

He said the Old Sergeant - which was run by manager Phil Baker - probably had between ten and 20 regulars and the “customer support” just was not there. 

He added: “There are just so many pubs in such a concentrated area that I am afraid there just wasn’t the supply and demand.”

The politician accepted the closure of the pub is a “terrible loss” for people who regularly visit and claims it will be “extremely sad” for people with memories of the old pub.

But he believes the development will restore a sense of community in the area which residents claim will be lost with the closure of the pub and the Royal British Legion.

He said: “Rather than have a pub which is not doing very well and empty housing blocks, we will have a multi-million pound development. It will be good quality housing.

“Seeing new houses go up will increase property value in the area which hopefully people will be happy with and it makes Parsonage Lane a better place.”