A COMMUNITY group which wants to reopen a village pub has rejected the offer of an alternative venue.

Skeeby Community Pub Society was formed last year to oppose plans by developer Jon Whitfield to convert the Travellers Rest, which closed several years ago, into a family home.

Negotiations over leasing the pub to reopen it as a community cooperative lasted several months but stalled after Mr Whitfield revealed he had also bought the village shop, known as Skeeby Stores.

Structural repairs to the Travellers Rest are under way, but the shop, next to the village hall, has been refurbished and is ready for business.

Mr Whitfield believes it is the shop, and not the Travellers Rest, which offers the best solution for those wishing to see a pub reopen in Skeeby, near Richmond.

He suggested that the society open a micro-pub in the shop, but the idea has been rejected by villagers – though Mr Whitfield believes it is the only way the society will succeed.

“The problem with the Travellers Rest was that it only had about six regulars and there is no way a pub can survive with that few customers,” he said.

“These micro-pubs are a g reat idea and even though the shop is only 220sq ft, that is plenty of room for a few people to come in and have a pint or two.

“It’s a perfect way for the society to set up a pub, give it a go, but without all the huge overheads they would have with the Travellers Rest.

“I’ve said they can have it rent free for a year and if it doesn’t work then fine, but if it does, they can buy it off me.”

Marie Church, a founding member of the society, said: “We put the idea to the community and the response was a resounding ‘no’. We are not interested in a micro-pub and have no appetite for opening one in Skeeby Stores.

“We remain absolutely determined to seeing the Travellers Rest reopen and that is our primary objective.”