Historic former pub put up for sale
By Camille Berriman
Monday, February 20, 2012
9:56 AM
A FORMER pub in a Bury St Edmunds town centre street hit by multiple business closures, has been put up for sale.
St Edmunds Tavern, in Risbygate Street, has gone on the market at a freehold asking price of £395,000 and is being marketed as suitable for restaurant or other retail or commercial uses.
The pub, which closed last month, is the latest in a line of Risbygate Street businesses to close in the past six months.
Your Touch of Craft, the Salvation Army shop, Anglia Arms, Apocalypse Miniature Gaming and Natasha’s hair and beauty have all shut.
Paul Hopfensperger, chairman of Risbygate Street Traders’ Association and who runs the Body and Mind Studio, opposite St Edmunds Tavern, said it was a particularly sad day when the Tavern closed, because a pub had traded on the site for more than 100 years.
“I have many memories of the pub growing up,” he said.
“I cannot see how that pub couldn’t make a go of it, especially as it always did well in the past. From the moment it changed from the Rising Sun to St Edmunds Tavern it was never any good.
“The association would love to see it reopen as a pub or a fantastic hotel - we’re always short of B&Bs in the town. I hope someone takes it over.”
Mr Hopfensperger added the traders’ association was keen to rejuvenate the area and had requested for this year’s Christmas Fayre to be extended into the street.
Fleurets, agents for St Edmunds Tavern, say the site is a redevelopment opportunity, with an open-plan trading area in five sections and spacious living accommodation, a car park and garden.
The pub closed last month after owners Greene King reviewed its future.
The closure followed a period of change for the pub. It was formerly the Rising Sun pub for more than 100 years, initially based at 73 Risbygate Street before moving to 98 Risbygate Street in 1891.
It changed its name to St Edmunds Tavern in April 2010 following an extensive refurbishment, but it closed for a short period in September 2011 before reopening under temporary management, until its final closure in January.
Further along the road, in Out Risbygate, another pub - The Falcon - is closed and boarded up after Greene King won a planning application to develop the site for housing.
As reported in the East Anglian Daily Times, the Suffolk Islamic Cultural Association is planning to lodge an application with St Edmundsbury Borough Council to see if it can change the use of The Falcon to a mosque and community centre.
For more information about St Edmunds Tavern, contact Fleurets at www.fleurets.com or call 01787 378050.
