Sadness as pub closes but its pizzas live on

Jake Yeo and Julie Malec had been running Arty’s at the Coach House in Fareham Road, Gosport, for the past 18 months.

Earlier this month, they were told that it had been sold by freehold owner Enterprise Inns and they were given their last day.

Jake said: ‘Enterprise Inns sold the freehold, which left us homeless and jobless.

‘It created us a headache and a heartache as we are now trying to sort everything out. The pub has been on and off the market for the past six years. It’s only since we took over and turned it around that interest has started in it.

‘Business has been good – better than expected.’

The couple took over the pub last year – bringing the name of Julie’s family business Arty’s – which used to be a wine bar in Knowle run by her father Paul.

Regulars at Arty’s at the Coach House – and lovers of the pub’s pizzas – should not be too disappointed as the couple will now focus their efforts on their new venture.

They opened a restaurant called Arty’s Clarence Marina at Royal Clarence Marina in Gosport which opened last month.

A last celebration was held at the Coach House to thank its customers at the weekend with live music from Eclectic Eighty.

A statement from the pub said: ‘We would like to thank you all for your amazing support over the last year and a half, we will cherish all the memories and hope you will join us at our new venue in Royal Clarence Marina.

‘We will be holding a sale of some of the artwork as we can’t take it all with us and will keep you posted when we finalise a date and time.’

A spokesperson for Enterprise Inns said: ‘After careful consideration, we took the decision to offer the freehold of the Coach House for sale.

‘The pub has been openly marketed for a considerable length of time, and we can now confirm that we have agreed a sale for the site, complete with its premises licence.’

It is not known whether the premises will remain a pub.

Gosport Borough Council said it had yet to receive an application for that site.