IN A bid to beat Hampshire’s pub crisis one brewery is giving its leasehold away for free. The landlord who takes over the George and Falcon, pictured, will pay nothing for three months.

The pub in Warnford, Southampton, includes a bar, restaurant, six en suite bedrooms and a riverside beer garden. Pub giant Marstons have just spent more than £400,000 on refurbishment.

Usually rent on the pub would be £76,000 a year and after the first three months rent will gradually increase to this level.

Early this year the Daily Echo revealed statistics that showed around 50 pubs were calling time blaming the smoking ban, soaring costs and the deepening recession.

Contact Christie and Co on 01962 844455 for further information.