THE landlord of a village’s only pub has withdrawn his bid to turn it into a house after residents and the Campaign for Real Ale both objected.

Blakeney’s historic Cock Inn featured on Channel 4’s Location, Location, Location two years ago as a great place for a pint.

But Steve Crick had real ale drinkers spluttering into their beer when he submitted a plan to turn the 200-year-old Grade II-listed premises on the busy A48 into a four-bedroom house.

CAMRA called for the pub, which has six ensuite rooms, to be declared a community asset in a bid to prevent it being lost to the village.

And they were backed by Forest planners, who told Mr Crick they couldn’t support his application to remove a community facility, particularly as it was the last surviving pub in the village.

Planning officer Chloe Johnson said the plan hadn’t demonstrated why the loss of the pub wouldn’t have a detrimental impact on the community, and said some of the proposed conversion plans were lacking in detail.

Mr Crick has now withdrawn the plan for change of use and listed building consent.

Awre Parish council had also expressed concern about the potential loss of a community asset, while real ale fan Alec Keene told planners: “I would like to object on behalf of Forest of Dean CAMRA to the change of use of this public house.

“This is the last public house in the village and will be a great loss to the community.

“I have also been contacted by local residents who are concerned at its potential loss.

“Rather than being converted into housing, we believe that it should be considered as a community asset.”

The application said: “Whilst these premises have operated as a public house for many years, the ongoing trend towards the demise of rural drinking establishments has now rendered this establishment unviable to continue trading.

“To avoid this building becoming another empty/boarded eyesore within the Forest, it is believed that a single sympathetic conversion to a residential dwelling is the best way forward, so retaining this piece of our heritage for the future.”

Location, Location, Location presenter Phil Spencer surprised licensees Steve and Jane Crick when he popped into the pub with a seven-strong crew to film in the bar for a two-minute segment shown in February 2017.