THE licensee at a Birdwell pub which was attacked by vandals earlier this month says he’s hungrier than ever to reopen the venue and he’s thanked locals who have offered their support.
Saleem Khandaker has, with his fiancee, been running The Cock Inn, on Pilley Hill, for the last two years.
He says he has loved every minute but was forced to move out of his home after the 264-year-old pub was the subject of an attack by vandals who smashed windows and threw white paint across the frontage.
Saleem admitted at the time that he didn’t know if they were going to go back to the pub but thanks to the support of locals who have offered to help clean up the venue free of charge he says he’s hungrier than ever to serve the local community.
He told the Chronicle: “We’ve had a hell of a lot of support from the locals and people further afield as well.
“We’ve had 1.7 million views on our Facebook since the attack which is absolutely phenomenal.
“People have been asking if they can come and help decorate.
“We’ve had people that have said they will come and replace the glass and get the garden in order.
“It’s all free of charge as well.
“We’ve had so much support.
“We’ve said that once we reopen we’re going to put up a plaque to say thank you to all the people who are helping us.
“Punch Taverns, the brewery, have been amazing too we couldn’t have got to where we are now without all their support.”
In the past two weeks since the attack, both Saleem and his fiancee have still been keen to support their locals even delivering pints to those who used to visit the pub every day.
He added: “We’ve had to move out of the area because at the moment there’s no windows at the pub and it’s inhabitable.
“Whenever we come back to the pub we pour a couple of pints for one of our locals who’s 92 and blind.
“He’s a godsend and he’s been coming to that pub for over 70 years.
“He doesn’t live too far away from the pub but he’s about 85 per cent blind.
“He knows all the turns and how to get to the pub so we just wanted to do something to support him because he’s lost a lot with the pub being closed.
“We’ll pour two pints, put some cling film over the top and we’ll drive to his house.”
There’s hopes that the pub will reopen its doors towards the end of next month and Saleem wants it to be a huge celebration.
“It’s heartbreaking to go into the pub at the minute and see what it looks like,” he added.
“But the support we’ve received has been so amazing and it’s given us that extra drive to get this place open.
“We’re going to come back better and stronger.”
