Regulars work to save Blue Boy pub

REGULARS at a community pub threatened with closure have been coming up with ideas on how to save it.

Last week, the Evening Telegraph revealed the Blue Boy pub, in Wiltshire Road, could close and that emergency meetings with staff were being called in a last-ditch attempt to save it.

A suggestions box has been placed in the pub so regulars and residents can have their say – and they have not proved short on ideas.

Dell Gregory, 46, of Wiltshire Road, said: "They need to make more use of the function room and get more people in to hire that because it is just standing empty, which is a waste."

Darren Roach, 33, of Pickering Rise, said he thought more should be done to attract families to the pub.

He said: "There is a big garden out there and they need to do something, particularly at this time of year, to get people out there.

"They could have a bouncy castle there for a few days, which would get people using the place.

"Other pubs have done that and it has worked."

The pub was given a £366,000 revamp paid for out of the £42m of Government New Deal cash earmarked to regenerate the Derwent area of Derby.

Its 25-year lease has been transferred to Derwent Delivers, an arm of Derwent Community Team, a public body set up to supervise the spending of the money.

The building is owned by pub company Enterprise Inns.

But Derwent Delivers has revealed the pub has lost £150,000 since it reopened in 2004.

The staff met Derwent Delivers officials on a one-to-one basis yesterday and have two weeks to come up with any recommendations before the Derwent Delivers board announces whether or not to call time on the pub on September 8.

Derwent Delivers chairman Peter Ballard said: "It is evident from the volume of calls from local people that some local people feel strongly about the future of the Blue Boy.

"The board is keen to have as many views and suggestions as we can before making our decision."

The views of residents will be taken on board during the consultation period which will last until September 4.

Comments can be placed in the suggestions box or posted on the website www.derwent together.co.uk.

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