Former pub put back on the market for £950,000 after failing to re-open

THE former Lamb at Satwell pub is being offered for sale for almost £1million.

It has been put on the market by former car dealer Graham Granaski, who bought the pub in 2013 from the previous owners, who included TV chef Antony Worrall Thompson, proprietor of the Greyhound in Peppard.

It had been closed after two former owners went bankrupt and has not re-opened.

The freehold is being marketed by Christie & Co for £950,000.

When Mr Granaski bought the pub it had fallen into disrepair and he submitted several planning applications for building work, including new rooms to let, a new kitchen and a landlord’s flat.

These were all refused planning permission by South Oxfordshire District Council and then on appeal.

In 2013, the council investigated claims by residents that Mr Granaski was using the pub car park to store and sell used cars under the name Highland Cars.

He said he needed somewhere to store and sell the cars after selling his old business premises in order to buy the pub.

When the council began enforcement action Mr Granaski stopped selling cars from the site.

However, the council then began investigating claims that he was using the pub as an unauthorised dwelling.

In 2015, Mr Granaski applied for planning permission to change the use of the property to residential, saying he could not run the pub as a viable business without substantial changes.

This application was refused and when he appealed, the planning inspector supported the council’s decision, saying the plans would result in the “unacceptable loss of an essential community facility”.

In January last year Mr Granaski was ordered to stop living at the premises.

Tim Widdows, of Christie & Co, said: “The Lamb is very well known in the area and many local residents would like to see it re-opened.

“The property has great potential for a new operator to extend the pub to increase covers, subject to planning permission, and the beautiful grounds perfectly lend themselves to outside events.”