PUBCO bosses say they do not want to sell Brighton’s “only alternative pub” but campaigners fear they will rob it of its identity and convert it into a chain pub.

Punch Taverns say they have no intentions to sell the Caroline of Brunswick when its current lease ends next November and want to keep it open for the “foreseeable future”.

But leaseholder Cliff Barnes fears the Pubco will convert the characterful pub into an identikit chain venue and undo ten years of hard work he has put into turning the Brighton pub around.

The Save The Caroline campaign was launched this week amid fears that the four-storey Ditchling Road pub might be closed next year and sold to housing developers.

More than 1,300 pub supporters have got behind the campaign this week including Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas.

While it now appears that the pub will stay into 2018 and beyond, campaigners are hoping to convince the Pubco it will operate better as it is rather than a chain pub and potentially a “Champs sports bar and grill”.

And the campaign will continue to press for an asset of community value status that would protect the pub for the next 25 years by making the building less attractive to property developers as they would have to keep the ground floor open as a pub.

Mr Barnes, 41, said: “Next November they would just say that would be the end of that and take it on themselves, it would be a chain pub of some sort and I would not be part of that.

“I have had the lease for ten years and I have turned it around from what was a pretty dismal place back in 2006.

“They would be saying thanks for all the hard work but no thanks.

“We will keep the campaign going for the ACV to stop a change of use for the next 25 years and to show Punch that there is a lot of love there and that people don’t want a generic chain pub.

“We’re hoping they will change their mind and I’m fairly optimistic, we have a got a very strong case.

“It is a profitable pub and I would love to continue running it.”

A Punch Taverns spokeswoman said: “We have no intentions to sell the Caroline of Brunswick and we are in continued discussions with the publican of the expiry of their lease agreement.

“We plan to keep the pub open and trading for the foreseeable future.”

To support the campaign visit facebook.com/groups/SaveTheCaz.