A POPULAR Southampton pub has closed after the company behind it ran into problems.

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The Varsity in London Road shut its doors while estate agents Savills try to find a new leaseholder to run it.

Kevin Marsh, head of Savills’ licence leisure department said: “We are marketing the property to the pub and bar industry in the expectation that we will quickly find a new operator for the business.

“The previous tenant failed due to wider corporate circumstances unrelated to this site.

“It’s a great property, in a great location with a good trading history. We expect there to be a lot of interest.”

The Varsity was a popular venue among the city’s student population and was regularly packed with people watching football matches.

Southampton city councillor Derek Burke, in whose Bevois ward The Varsity sits, said: “We have lost lots of pubs across the county and we need to keep them because they are a community asset.

“I have been in there and it has got quite a good mix of people and very friendly.

“It is a lovely little pub and I would love to see it open again.”

Deric Payne, chairman of the south Hampshire branch of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, said: “I hope the pub reopens, I would like to see every pub reopened.

“It is without a doubt harder to run a pub these days and more expensive but pubs really are the hearts of the community. They keep closing them down and it is not right.

“They are somewhere to have a chat and meet people and lots and lots of people now don’t have a place to go.”

Anyone interested in taking over Varsity’s lease should contact Savills on 023 8071 3900.