ST SAVIOUR’S Tavern regulars are livid that their local is closing for only the second time in more than 120 years. Time will be called at The Ritz on Saturday 8 September.

Since opening in 1886, the only other time it has closed for a lengthy period was for five years during the Occupation when the German forces lived in it.

‘It’s the end of a community because people don’t know where they are going to go. We are so shattered by it because we did not expect it,’ said licensee Wendy Hordell yesterday.

It will be the end of an era because she has been at the only pub in the parish for nearly 35 years.

‘The customers are devastated.’

Farmer and potato grower Bernie Simon, 77, said: ‘I have been coming in for 62 years and my father and grandfather all used this place. It’s a very handy place and within walking distance and we can drink as much as we wish.

‘It’s a bloody big shock – St Saviour’s will never be the same.

‘It’s been a really great pub and it’s bound to upset us.’

Roadman Eustace Bourgaize, 63, said: ‘I have been coming in here for 46 years and there are no other pubs around here. It’s the first

I heard about it yesterday and

I’m not pleased at all – I feel

really downhearted.’

He believes it is the best pub in the island.

‘I think it stinks and it’s downright disgusting. I know he ‘Tom Scott’ is there to make money but it could have been done in a better way.

‘It’s going to destroy the community and I’m a bit surprised at this.’

It means the euchre and pool teams are in limbo.

‘I have been playing there since 1968 and I’m annoyed about it, but there is not much we can do,’ said Frank Le Cheminant, 66, who plays for The Ritz euchre team.

‘We are a bit upset they have closed and we thought it was a condition they would keep one bar open. We are going to the West Legion – we start in a fortnight. It’s going to be hard and it’s going to cost us more for our night out.’

It is understood that the pub could be closed for refurbishment for up to two years, but that could not be confirmed yesterday.

The Tavern recently changed hands for just £285,200 – less than the average cost of a local market house.

Businessman and owner Tom Scott warned last week that there might be a temporary closure.

‘We are building a better pub and restaurant there,’ he said.

The entrepreneur did not wish to comment yesterday.

It is believed all staff have been offered jobs elsewhere within the licensed trade.

A ‘Save The Ritz’ petition was launched a few years ago when it emerged that homes were planned for the site and a recent appeal cleared the way for parts of it to be developed into a house and flats.

‘What I do know is the staff have all been told it’s shutting. It’s disappointing that it’s being shut while the work is being done and it would have been nice to keep some of it open for the local community,’ said regular John Pickles, 51, a chartered accountant, who organised the petition.

‘We hope it will reopen in line with Tom Scott’s statement last week. Let us hope that ﾓtemporaryﾔ is the operative word.’

‘I wish Wendy well on behalf of everyone for all her hard work over many years. I’m looking forward to when it reopens.’

Many famous people have been to the pub, including Jimmy Hill, 1966 World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore and Oliver Reed.