A national pub chain has quashed rumours it will take on a Croydon pub which is up for sale.

JD Wetherspoon announced in September that it will be closing the Foxley Hatch in Purley. 

It is one of 32 venues across the company the pub chain is putting up for sale.

Now, Greene King has confirmed it is not purchasing the popular pub in Russell Hill Road with a spokesperson telling the Local Democracy Service: “I can confirm we are not acquiring the pub”.

The Foxley Hatch remains open and will continue to operate as a Wetherspoon until a buyer is found.

The pub is currently up for rent through the estate agent Savills for £46,500 a year, although it is subject to a rent review in March 2023.

The listing says the pub occupies a “prominent location” and adds: “The Foxley Hatch comprises the ground and first floors of a three-storey terraced building under a pitched roof.

To the rear is a small service yard and to the front elevation is a small beer terrace providing seating for approximately 16 customers.”

In October a petition to save the pub was started by Simon Cripps of the Purley Business Improvement District (BID). It has now gathered more than 350 signatures.

Mr Cripps said: “The pub is a core offering for the night-time economy. We do have really good pubs in Purley but Wetherspoons provides a good price point for younger and older people, they might be priced out of the town because of this.

“I think it’s a bit short-sighted of the company.

"There are big flats going up in Purley and I’m sure to have a Wetherspoons offering in Purley would be extremely popular.”