A MONTH ago, the parish of Romsey Extra had two pubs: currently, it has none.

The Duke’s Head, at Greatbridge and the Hunters Inn, at Woodley, closed their doors within weeks of each other and the latter appears boarded up and surrounded by metal fencing.

Pub giant, Enterprise Inns, owns both watering holes and has told the Romsey Advertiser that they will reopen soon.

Enterprise stated: “We can confirm that the Hunters Inn, in Woodley, is expected to reopen by the end of the month with a new publican taking over the business. The Duke’s Head is also only closed temporarily, and we are taking the opportunity to carry out minor works on site while we interview prospective new publicans.”

Their spokesman said that tenants of both pubs had decided “to pursue other interests”.

Romsey Extra parish councillor, John Parker, is not a great fan of Enterprise.

“It’s alarming that both pubs shut within two weeks,” said Mr Parker. “Enterprise don’t seem to be interested in running them as local country pubs. He said he would be raising the issue at the next parish council meeting when he would ask if Romsey Extra’s two pubs should be put on the Community Assets Register.

If the pubs were on the register, were Enterprise to propose closing them, local people would be given up to six months to prepare a bid to buy them.