A THREATENED York pub’s future may have been secured.

Question marks were hanging over the Volunteer Arms, in Watson Street, after its owners, Punch Taverns, said it was no longer viable as a pub.

But earlier this month, city councillors turned down plans to demolish the building to make way for housing.

Meanwhile, interest in the site was expressed by local businessmen Paul Crossman and Jon Farrow, owners of the Slip Inn, in Clementhorpe, and the Swan Inn, in Bishopgate Street, who said they believed it was still viable as a pub, and the neighbouring St Paul’s Church, which wanted to turn the building into a community centre for local people.

The Press can now reveal Punch has accepted an offer from Mr Crossman and Mr Farrow to buy the pub and run it as a going concern. While stressing the deal had not yet been finalised, Mr Crossman said if they were successful they would follow their previous practice of reinvesting the proceeds from the business in the pub.

He said: “We are very happy. We genuinely believe that pub has got huge potential. We invest in pubs, get them on their feet and put on events local people can enjoy. We can build the Volunteer Arms up as a little hub of that little community.”

They had previously offered £165,000 – the then asking price – for the pub. While declining to reveal their successful offer, Mr Crossman said the pub had subsequently been “remarketed at a slightly higher value”. The vicar of St Paul’s, the Rev John Lee, said: “Disappointingly, we have been outbid by another purchaser for the Volunteer Arms.

“We understand that the building will continue to operate as a pub.

“We wish the new landlord well and hope that we may be able to work together in bringing new initiatives into the area. St Paul’s remains committed to serving the community in Holgate and we’ll continue to look for new opportunities and partnerships in that mission.”

A spokesperson for Punch Taverns said: “The Volunteer Arms is currently open for trade and being run by a temporary operator while we continue to explore options around the future of the pub.”