A WOLVERCOTE pub has been saved by residents after it faced being turned into a four-bedroom house.

The White Hart’s future was in doubt after its owner looked for permission to change its use following a financial dispute with the community company that runs it.

But now the White Hart Community Pub Ltd has appeased its landlord by appointing new directors, all from the village, and the pub will remain open.

Landlord Simon Ryde, who has been a resident of the village for more than 20 years, said: “I’m delighted that it looks like the pub can survive.

“I have had great times as a customer there over the years and I’m happy to commit to extending the current lease, which still has eight years to run, as long as the business is viable.”

One of the new directors, Gordon Richardson, regularly uses the 17th century pub and said: “All of us are local and we all use the pub in different ways – I’m actually involved in Morris dancing there – and we came to recognise the pub was struggling and we needed to do something.

“There are other pubs in the village but they have become more like restaurants and attract people from outside. The White Hart is a community place and it’s important it stays open.”

The community pub company was formed in October 2013 and has acted as a tenant at the Godstow Road establishment.

According to the original “change of use” application from the pub owners, the monthly rent had not been paid for a number of months and thousands of pounds were owed.

But Mr Ryde said the new team had struck a deal with the owners to try to turn the pub’s fortunes around and they had already begun discussing plans to attract more punters.

The last of the old directors, Christopher Gowers, was replaced by the fresh management team last week.

Villagers will be able to have their say on the pub’s future at a public meeting with the directors in the baptist church opposite the pub from 8pm on March 22.