Last minute plea over sale of pub

Customers at the Auctioneer pub in Lytham Road, South Shore, have asked JD Wetherspoon to keep hold of the pub, part of a group off 34 it put up for sale in November.

They launched an appeal and petition which gathered 2,500 signatures.

These were delivered to Wetherspoon’s headquarters in Watford in a bid to get bosses to change their minds.

But this week an offer has been made for the Auctioneer which the current owners are considering.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “The Auctioneer is on the market and we are progressing with enquiries although it is too early for us to comment any further at this stage.”

But regular Michael Turner said today customers wanted it to stay as a Wetherspoon pub.

He said: “We have heard a rival pub company has come in for the Auctioneer, one that has several pubs in Blackpool already.

“But the regulars would love it to stay as a Wetherspoon, so much so that 2,500 of them signed the petition.

“It is the cheapest Wetherspoon’s in town so if it does get taken over then customers will be hoping the beer prices stay the same.

“It is an important part of the community for so many people. We would appeal to them to change their minds.”

The pub used to be an auctioneer’s premises and, before that, a Kwik Save shop.