A group of Lasham residents are fighting to save their village pub which served the area for over 100 years before its unexpected closure at the end of 2022.

Residents have since launched a Save Our Pub campaign and have explained why it is so important to them to save The Royal Oak.

Oli Empson-Ridler, Spokesperson of the Save Our Pub campaign said: “Lasham is a small, friendly and close-knit community, but one that has very few public amenities.

“The pub is situated right next to the village church, so these two buildings are very much the heart of the village. With the pub now closed we have lost the only meeting place that we have where villagers can socialise and keep up to date with what is happening with their neighbours.”

The pub has been registered as an Asset of Community Value with East Hampshire District Council and a survey of Lasham residents, neighbouring villages, and local businesses is currently underway to understand what the community wants from its local pub.

According to Mr Empson-Ridler the pub was thriving before the pandemic and he believes it could again under the right owners.

Mr Empson-Ridler added: “Several local pubs in our area have closed in recent years, so the potential catchment for our village pub is substantial.

“We would welcome anyone who is interested in supporting our campaign, be that financially or with practical help and advice, to come forward to help us save this important community facility.”

To participate in the survey, visit www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/lashamroyaloak