Weston protesters say cheers as Tesco pull out of pub deal

Campaigners fighting moves by Tesco to turn a Weston-super-Mare pub into a supermarket have won their fight after the retail giant pulled out of negotiations for the site.

The move comes just days after residents wrote to the company asking it to scrap plans to turn the former Bristol House pub in Milton, which closed in July, into a Tesco Express.

Campaigners outside the Bristol House pub in Weston-super-Mare

Residents launched the Save the Bristol House campaign earlier this summer after learning Tesco had entered negotiations with the pub owner, Enterprise Inns, about taking a lease for the site and turning it into a store.

A planning application by Enterprise Inns to expand the pub – which campaigners believed was an attempt to increase the size of the site ready for it to be handed to Tesco – was unanimously rejected last month by councillors.

The application prompted 160 letters of objection and a 2,300-name petition from residents who said they wanted to see the pub reopened.

In a statement to the campaign group this week, Tesco confirmed it was no longer pursuing its interest in the site.

The statement said: "We do not own this site and had not taken a lease.

"We had said we would be interested in the site should planning permission be given. As planning permission has not been given, we are not pursuing our interest in the site.

Campaigners are now pressing Enterprise to reopen the pub.

Campaign leader Mark Thyer said: "We are delighted at the news. Tesco did the right thing and walked away.

"This campaign just shows how a community can work together to make a difference."