Residents left frightened after Gosport pub the Village Home forced to close due to suspected coronavirus

The Village Home Pub, Gosport, announced it had shut its doors within 48 hours of pubs being allowed open in England.

News of the dramatic closure - among a tiny number of pubs in England which were forced to close after throwing open their doors for the first time since March - had swept through the quiet village.

With houses and boutique shops offering basic amenities packed on to the tight-knit Village Road, where the pub is located, it was the hot topic in the area.

Roz O’Toole, owner of tea room Joys of Alverstoke, said: ‘I heard about the pub having to shut. It is a worry to hear that.’

Others admitted they were worried the virus could spread through the village - the sight of numerous people wearing masks a constant reminder of the pandemic.

One said: ‘People are frightened after hearing what happened - especially the older people.’

Long-term resident Tony Morrall, 78, said he heard from a neighbour who was told by a friend in Canada. ‘You can understand the worry people have,’ he said.

The anxiety had spread to other nearby pubs with The Park Tavern, Park Road, having announced its closure as did The Fighting Cocks in Clayhall Road - both as a precaution.

Speaking to The News, Liz Corp, landlady of The Park Tavern, said: ‘I’m nervous about it (the virus). I just felt it was safer to close for a few days - it’s just too close to home.

‘It’s a disaster for morale for that to happen (at The Village Home Pub).’

Ms Corp said she will hopefully ‘open after the weekend after seeing how things are’.

She added: ‘We have to put things in place to make sure we are as safe as possible.

‘It’s not about money at the moment, it’s about safety.

‘I regret I’ve had to shut for now but we’ll be open again soon.’

Local, Charis Noakes, 54, who has been drinking at the pub since she was a teenager, said: ‘I’m gutted. It’s important to be safe.

‘We respect the decision to shut - she is a very responsible landlady and just wants her customers, her staff and herself to be safe.’

Ms Noakes added how it will be ‘difficult for people to socially distance when they’re drunk’.

Meanwhile, other nearby landlords admitted it was a ‘concern’ to hear about the closures.

Rob Hylands, of The Foresters Arms in Anns Hill Road, said: ‘There’s always a concern someone could bring the virus in.

‘That’s why we’ve put in place all the measures we have such as a booking system and keeping everything clean.

‘We are going slowly and carefully so hopefully we’ll be okay here.’

The Village Home posted it ‘had a case of coronavirus in the pub’, adding that ‘some of us are in isolation’ but hopes to be open on Saturday.

Fighting Cocks events manager Amie Jones told The News: ‘The bottom line is that we have to keep everyone safe.

‘It is a shame to be closing so soon after the reopening, but we think this needs to be done.’

It comes after a pupil at Leesland C of E Infant School, in Whitworth Road, Gosport, has had a confirmed Covid-19 diagnosis.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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