THE brewery behind a 150-year-old pub has categorically denied the building is being sold off to a supermarket giant and insisted it is committed to it reopening.

The Woodmans Arms, in Rayleigh Road, Thundersley, shut its doors suddenly in October and has remained closed since.

Rumours have begun to circle on social media that the once-popular pub had been sold off and would be transformed into a Tesco supermarket.

Now the brewery which runs the pub, Star Pubs and Bars, has insisted the site has not been sold and it is committed to re-opening the pub as soon as possible.

Stephen Mountford, Castle Point councillor for Cedar Hall, described the brewery’s pledge as “good news”.

He said: “The Woodmans is part of our community. It’s had a bit of a rocky past over the last ten years, as various tenants have struggled to make a go of it. But I hope the new tenants will get it back to its heyday as a gastro pub.

“Pubs are a very difficult business to make a living from these days.

“We had heard these scaremongering rumours about it going to be a Tesco or ‘knocked down for flats’, but we want to protect what we have here in Thundersley.”

The Woodmans dates back to 1874 and has been a pub consistently throughout that time.

Jaqui Thornton, Castle Point councillor for St James’ ward, said she was “disappointed” the pub has not reopened yet.

She said: “I would not like to see the pub lost, as it’s of value to the community. Anything that can be done to keep it open should.

“Pubs are a central hub for the community. People come together for quiz nights, councillors have their surgeries in them, and people can go on their own to mix with others.

“That is something that would absolutely be lost if the Woodmans was to become a supermarket. I believe it needs to reopen.”

A spokesman for Star Pubs and Bars said: “We can confirm that we are committed to reopening the pub.”

When approached over the rumours, a spokesman for Tesco insisted the supermarket chain is not looking at taking over or developing the site.