A COUPLE, who feel they have been left with no choice but to leave a Devizes pub they have turned into a community hub, will pull their last pint on Wednesday evening. (March 21)

Tenants Ian and Sarah Wixon, who have run the Southgate Inn in Potterne Road for nearly eight years, wanted to stay but say owners Hop Back Brewery were not prepared to make improvements they felt essential.

Mr Wixon, 53, said: "We really didn't want to go. We have put so much into the pub over the years but the toilets are badly in need of modernisation and we also had plans to take down a wall so we would have a much better area for the music nights.

"We didn't want to change the character of the pub just freshen it up. Wadworth is spending a lot of money on its pubs in Devizes and we needed to be able to compete."

His wife Sarah, 52, said: "I am very, very sad to be leaving. We will really miss it."

The pub is a meeting place for a number of local organisations and is known for its live music evenings. The couple have also supported a number of charities including the Drews Pond Wood Project.

Mr Wixon said: "We have become a community pub and we really like that. We didn't want to go but we were not prepared to sign a new tenancy agreement if the brewery was not prepared to invest."

Mrs Wixon has gone back to working full-time as a dispenser at Boots in Devizes while bookkeeper Mr Wixon is keeping his options open.

He said: "I wouldn't rule out another business investment. We just want a bit of time to see how things pan out."

The couple, who live above the pub, will be moving into a rented home in the town while they decide their future.

Hop Back has appointed Dave Wright and Debbie Barnett as new tenants and they will re-open the pub on Monday. Hop Back managing director Paul Sullivan said: "They are planning to eventually increase the number of ales served in the pub permanently and are kicking off with a beer festival and live music over the Easter weekend.

"Dave and Debbie are coming to the business from Cambridge, but Dave has previously run the Cuckoo Inn in Hamptworth, south of Salisbury.

"They are exceptionally keen to maintain quiz night, skittles teams, the excellent wines and spirits that Ian and Sarah have built up and add their own mark to the pub."