A PUB’S new landlady has revealed it was saved from being turned into a Chinese restaurant.
Sally Crosby has permanently taken over the Leather Bottle, in Shrub End Road, Colchester.
The 400-year-old pub was put on the market for £425,000 in May 2012 by Punch Taverns. Miss Crosby was temporarily appointed to take it over, but now it has been bought, she has signed a 15-year lease to run the pub.
She said: “Thanks to the owner putting the full asking price in, it was saved from being a Chinese restaurant.”
Miss Crosby said a “substantial investment” will be made to transform the listed building, including repainting the exterior and redecorating inside. A double garage will be turned into a function room and a new beer garden will be created.
Miss Crosby, of Bakers Lane, Lexden, is passionate about keeping pubs alive.
She added: “This will be a free house and it is those that will be saved as they aren’t tied to breweries where you pay more for beer. “It does give me big satisfaction to know we can create something that is going to be here to stay."
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