THE FORMER landlord of a much loved pub left town after it was bought by the regeneration company.

Michael Theal took over the historic Bull in February of 2013.

The born and bred Bracknell resident relished the challenge of transforming the grade II listed public house, which had come to earn a negative reputation over the past several years.

His aspirations were cut short less than a year later however, when owners Greene King sold the 14th century tavern to the Bracknell Regeneration Company.

"I thought it would be a challenge," explained the 30 year-old.

"It had a really bad reputation, but I really enjoyed running it. Until Greene King sold it.

"Nobody told me I would only have a weeks notice. When I asked them about selling it they said it won't happen for years."

Mr Theal discovered his impended eviction a day before he received official notice, when a labourer contracted to work on renovations let the news slip while drinking at the bar.

Not to be put down, the landlord saw The Bull out in style.

"In the last few week it was packed, rammed everyday," he continued.

"During my last couple of weeks I had a Help the Heroes day. We had a bomb squad robot. We had a Segway company. In the end we made £8,000 (for the charity)."

Bracknell News:

Mr Theal briefly ran the British Legion after The Bull's closure, but finally gave up on the pub game when that too closed shortly after, prompting him to move High Wycombe and pursue a career in IT.

"The Bull was an awesome pub but everyone has moved on now," Mr Theal said.

"It was left unoccupied for two years before anyone even put scaffolding on it.

"If The Bull was still open I would be there now. I got friendly with the police, the mayor came in almost everyday.

"They should have left some character in Bracknell. The Bull had so much character. The place is completely different now."

Simon Russian, development manager, Legal and General on behalf of Bracknell Regeneration Partnership, said: "The Bull was purchased by Bracknell Regeneration Partnership in 2013.

"The grade II listed public house has since undergone an extensive refurbishment to restore it to its former glory, in the heart of the new town centre.

"The Bull plays an important role in the town’s history, and as such the heritage building with a new, modern twist will provide a visual and physical link between the old and the new.”