THE landlords of a Meon Valley pub that is threatened with being turned into flats have been given the support of a local MP.

Ollie and Sara Pollard-Dambach took over the Roebuck, in Kingsmede on the Droxford Road, in August this year after it was closed for six months.

The couple are now in negotiations with owner Peter Rogers to look at securing its future and 15 full and part-time jobs. To support them he has agreed a three-month rent-free period so they can make the business viable.

Work is taking place to reopen as a B&B and pub, plus a host of theme nights like pie night, curry night, and a quiz night to bring in customers.

Recently Meon Valley MP Flick Drummond met with the couple and Peter to discover how the pub has changed.

She said: “I really do admire Sara and Ollie for what they are doing to make a success of this pub during these incredibly difficult times.

“It really is a case of use this pub or lose it and I do hope the community rallies around and frequents it in the numbers needed to make it a viable business.

“The owner is very supportive and more than happy to see it remain as a pub but it needs to be a viable business. Sara and Ollie are doing all they can while they have a rent-free period to do this. My message is: go there and support this community asset. I will certainly be dropping in again.”