Future of well loved historic Hastings pub is secured after being bought by regular

The Horse and Groom at Mercatoria is the oldest pub in St Leonards and a local treasure. It is known affectionately as ‘The Doom and Gloom’ The future of the pub was cast in doubt after eccentric and well-loved landlord David Sansbury died in February 2022.

The pub was put on the market earlier this year by David’s sister and there were concerns that it would lose its special identity as a local pub. With an estimated 25 pubs a week closing across the country, fears of a greedy developer calling time on their beloved ‘Doom and Gloom’ have dominated the bar room conversation. Not much better was the threat of the Horse and Groom being turned into a trendy gastropub or sports bar.

It has now been bought by local man Alan Pink who has been a regular at the pub for decades.

Alan is intent on preserving the essential character of the place as it is and said: “I’ve been coming here for forty years myself and I agree with with Dr Johnson when he said ‘there is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or inn.’ The Horse and Groom is a great pub, and I mean, if I can, to keep it like that.”

The Horse and Groom is open every day of the week from 12 till 11pm.