A retired businessman from the Midlands has publicly criticised pub giant Greene King, branding its approach as 'small-minded' after his attempts to rescue a cherished local pub were met with years of silence.
A Community's Fight for a Local
Stuart Mee is spearheading a campaign to save The Oddfellows Arms in Redditch, Worcestershire, which closed its doors last November. His vision is to transform the establishment into a genuine community pub, with any profits being reinvested back into the local area of Astwood Bank.
Despite having a positive and fully-funded proposal, Mr Mee expressed deep frustration at the lack of engagement from the brewery chain. He revealed that he first met with a Greene King representative as far back as 2023 and followed up with an email in November 2024, but has received no substantive response in nearly three years.
Historic Pub Part of a Worrying Trend
The Oddfellows Arms is believed to have opened in the 1840s and is named after The Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a historic friendly society. Its closure is part of a devastating trend for the village, which has seen several other pubs shut down.
The Red Lion, Coach & Horses and White Lion have all previously closed, leaving the popular commuter village with just one pub, The Bell, and a social club. Mr Mee highlighted the national crisis, stating, "With between 30 and 40 pubs a month closing across the UK, it seems small-minded of Greene King not to give local residents the opportunity to keep one of their fast-dwindling stock open."
Contradictory Statements and Local Disappointment
In response to enquiries, a Greene King spokesperson said, "We are actively searching for a new partner to operate The Oddfellows Arms following the departure of our previous tenant. We encourage anyone who is interested in running the pub as our partner to contact our recruitment team."
This statement has done little to assuage local feelings. Stuart Mee concluded, "We are very disappointed not to have had any response in nearly three years... In consequence Astwood Bank and the surrounding area has lost another much-loved community asset." The future of the historic Oddfellows Arms remains uncertain, caught between corporate process and community passion.
