A PUB could be saved from the bulldozer after an anonymous bidder stepped in to try and stop the Carlton Tavern site becoming a care home.

The Press revealed in March how brewery giant Marstons confirmed an agreement to sell the Acomb Road watering hole to Crown Care Developers.

However, plans could be put on hold if new proposals to buy the pub are accepted.

Joe Gardham, founder of Social Vision and director of the city’s new shipping container project, Spark:York, in Piccadilly, lives in Acomb and believes the Carlton offers an opportunity to create a new kind of social and economic investment in the area.

He believes it will provide space for informal meetings and quality food for residents and professionals unable to travel into the city centre.

He said: “I’m working alongside a private investor on a community bid to transform the Carlton Tavern into an exciting hub of community activity, including a microbrewery, restaurant, cafe and deli that will provide an informal socialising space for all generations in the area, whilst simultaneously creating employment opportunities for local residents.

“Business contacts of mine, particularly sole traders, are always telling me that they are looking for a space in Holgate or Acomb, where they can meet clients and colleagues, without the need to go into town.

“A daytime offer would see quality drinks, deli produce, light bites and fresh pastries.

“Into the evening we’d look to create an exciting menu and create one of Acomb’s first formal dining experiences; bringing people to the area from other parts of the city.”

Mr Gardham also hopes to use the opportunity to invest in jobs and training for people in Westfield ward, including skills in brewing through to Barista training.

Crown Care’s plans are to demolish the pub and build a new 79 bedroom home, which they say will create 100 new jobs.

As with other pub closures in York over recent years, the move has not been received well by residents and pub regulars.

An event was held at Poppleton Road Memorial Hall in February to tell people in the area about the plan.

However, locals complained that many who live near the pub were not invited and so missed the chance to have their say.

The planning application has received 73 objections to date, including pleas to save the historic building from national heritage organisations responsible for monitoring planning and development, such as the Victorian Society and the Council for British Archaeology, as well as SAVE Britain’s Heritage.

Local heritage bodies, York Conservation Trust and York Civic Trust, have also objected and heritage pub champions, CAMRA.

One local resident commented: “The building has been a landmark… and will not be replaceable.

“So many buildings are let go. There will be no history left for the future.”