Bassini agrees 25-year lease for Yellow and Red Lion (From Watford Observer)
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Ex-Watford owner Laurence Bassini agrees 25-year lease for Yellow and Red Lion pub
5:51pm Thursday 13th September 2012 in Watford FC News
Picture: Pippa Douglas
Former Watford owner Laurence Bassini is no longer involved with the running of the Yellow and Red Lion pub in Vicarage Road and will not be taking profits from the business, it has been confirmed.
Watford owned the pub opposite Vicarage Road Stadium for several years but agreed to give the business, and the land, to Bassini as part of the Pozzos’ takeover in the summer.
However, two of the men who helped restore the pub earlier this year have come to an “agreement” with Bassini over a new 25-year lease, with the option to purchase the freehold in a year’s time.
Dave Hashani, who helped renovate the building, and Josh Price, who was the pub manager when the club ran the business, have come together and taken control of the Yellow and Red Lion.
Hashani did not want to discuss specific details about the deal with Bassini but he did confirm that he and Price have this week finalised the paperwork for a 25-year lease and that there is an option to buy the freehold in a year.
Price, who spent time at Watford as a youngster, stated Bassini is “out of the picture” and wants to “return the pub back to Watford supporters”.
Price said: “It has taken a while and we are really pleased to get the lease so we can carry on the work we started in April.
“With the help of my brother Neil and the Watford Former Players' Association, we want to make the pub a success and bring it back to Watford fans.
“This is a fresh start with a new company and we want to state for the record that Laurence Bassini is no longer involved with the Yellow and Red Lion and will not be receiving any profits from the pub.
“When the takeover happened I left and the pub was left in limbo. We have been trying to get the lease and along with Dave, we have managed to do that.”
Generations of Watford supporters used to drink in the Red Lion prior to matches but it was closed in 2006 shortly after the club purchased the land.
The former regime of Graham Simpson and Mark Ashton wanted to build flats and offices on the site but the idea was scrapped and it remained closed until April this year, when it was initially used on match days before opening daily in June.
Bassini was unavailable for comment.
On Friday, John Barnes and Allan Smart will be at the pub for autographs and pictures at around 6pm.
Comments(29)
Hampshire hornet
says...
6:00pm Thu 13 Sep 12
Holly68
says...
6:07pm Thu 13 Sep 12
DuffmanWFC
says...
7:10pm Thu 13 Sep 12
Club spend half a million doing it up and he gets given it as part of a take over package and then he walks away from it!..... Bull if you ask me!
DuffmanWFC
says...
7:13pm Thu 13 Sep 12
buckler
says...
8:52pm Thu 13 Sep 12
Lloydinio
says...
9:12pm Thu 13 Sep 12
jasonwatford wrote:bit harsh on Jenkins, Yeates has been alright this season, Garner not confident enough,
maybe garner could have a job serving pints and yeats and jenkins could do the cleaning......well they have to be paid so might as well get them doing something ??? What do you lot think ?
CroxleyTandoori
says...
9:29pm Thu 13 Sep 12
DuffmanWFC wrote:You're an idiot.
Won't been seen in that dump if you ask me! I can't believe for one minute that Bassini doesn't have a financial stake or interest in that place!
Club spend half a million doing it up and he gets given it as part of a take over package and then he walks away from it!..... Bull if you ask me!
arthur horsefield
says...
9:52pm Thu 13 Sep 12
abbotsrich
says...
10:33pm Thu 13 Sep 12
arthur horsefield wrote:prime case of cutting you nose to spite your face, forget about Bas. If we Watford boys don't use the place it will eventually end up as flats anyway..
Drinking in the pub will ultimately see money go in to that idiots pocket, when the new guys own the freehold and until then I will not be spending my money in there.
CroxleyTandoori
says...
10:41pm Thu 13 Sep 12
arthur horsefield wrote:You're an idiot as well. Bassini has leased the Pub to two Watford men. After a year he will sell to them if all goes well. Where is the problem? If the pub does not go well the pub will probbaly close again. Give Neil and Josh a chance and stop moaning about Basini he has gone.
Drinking in the pub will ultimately see money go in to that idiots pocket, when the new guys own the freehold and until then I will not be spending my money in there.
Get in there and spenm money so in a year Neil and Josh have enough to buy the Freehold. If you done understand this you are probably retarded.
londomollari
says...
11:16pm Thu 13 Sep 12
i makes lots of money---No pub.
Or: Supporters spend money in pub---tenants make lots of money---buy pub off Bassini---bassini makes lots of money---watford men own pub---Pub at vicaraghe road for Watford supporters.
Simple choice
londomollari
says...
11:17pm Thu 13 Sep 12
arthur horsefield
says...
11:24pm Thu 13 Sep 12
londomollari
says...
11:40pm Thu 13 Sep 12
arthur horsefield wrote:well, We only need to read your reply to see what you are.
Retard, all very well typing, say to my face you c! Nt
hollywood101
says...
1:19am Fri 14 Sep 12
I'll be drinking back in there from now on now bas is no longer taking profits from my pint.
Eastsussexhornet
says...
7:39am Fri 14 Sep 12
londomollari wrote:Quite. best not to converse at all when tat sort of thing startsven though it's tempting...
arthur horsefield wrote:well, We only need to read your reply to see what you are.
Retard, all very well typing, say to my face you c! Nt
DuffmanWFC
says...
7:53am Fri 14 Sep 12
10:41pm Thu 13 Sep 12
arthur horsefield wrote:
Drinking in the pub will ultimately see money go in to that idiots pocket, when the new guys own the freehold and until then I will not be spending my money in there.
You're an idiot as well. Bassini has leased the Pub to two Watford men. After a year he will sell to them if all goes well. Where is the problem? If the pub does not go well the pub will probbaly close again. Give Neil and Josh a chance and stop moaning about Basini he has gone.
Get in there and spenm money so in a year Neil and Josh have enough to buy the Freehold. If you done understand this you are probably retarded.
So Tandori u plonker if we all spend our cash in that place Mr Bassini's price will go up come sell time!
If we don't spend our hard earned cash it will be sold cheaply at the end of the season!
I believe Bassini has had his fair share of the pie!
Anyway how can we all drink in there? It's the smallest pub in Watford!
Go away Tandori boy and grow up
The Rover
says...
8:27am Fri 14 Sep 12
It would not surprise me if Dave has been given a 25 year lease in return for the work he did on the building because he did not get paid.
At the end of day we have a pub opposite the stadium rather than a derelict building, and as long as they serve decent beer I will go in there and have a drink, regardless of who owns it.
Also, using the pub is supporting a small local business that sells beer from local breweries, rather than lining the pockets of multi-national companies.
The choices are:
A) use the pub, and help it remain open, eventually owned by Josh and Dave.
B) don't use the pub, it goes out of business and closes, and gets handed back to Bassinis
I know which option I would rather see.
Chris the Vic
says...
9:10am Fri 14 Sep 12
Price, his brother the legends have done a deal.
Bas gets the rent and after a year they buy the pub at a price already agreed.
So any money taken over to bar will not give Bas any more cash. It will however let the Prices etc make money and give us a good pub run by Watford folk.
A boycott, as proposed by those who have sat down too hard and damaged their brains will endanger the future of the Prices and the finances of the legends without probably damaging the finances of Bas.
Please before you write, think it out and do not behave like muppetts.
hempstead
says...
9:13am Fri 14 Sep 12
SAHornet
says...
9:19am Fri 14 Sep 12
londomollari wrote:horsefield? Horses arse, more like !
arthur horsefield wrote:well, We only need to read your reply to see what you are.
Retard, all very well typing, say to my face you c! Nt
Bill_O
says...
9:20am Fri 14 Sep 12
Boxhorn
says...
9:48am Fri 14 Sep 12
You could have the 'Deeney Ale' - a strong dark bitter with a bit of a kick.
The 'Garner Light Ale' - a pale lightweight brew.
The 'Iwelumo Porter' - another dark brew that's a bit of an aquired taste....
The Rover
says...
9:56am Fri 14 Sep 12
Boxhorn wrote:How about Graham Taylor Ale.
Perhaps if all goes well they can start to brew thier own 'Watford FC' beers.
You could have the 'Deeney Ale' - a strong dark bitter with a bit of a kick.
The 'Garner Light Ale' - a pale lightweight brew.
The 'Iwelumo Porter' - another dark brew that's a bit of an aquired taste....
Well matured with a hint of Turnip ;-)
Mickey Quinn, not so thin
says...
9:58am Fri 14 Sep 12
DuffmanWFC wrote:No no no no !! The price will already have been set and depending on the level of business generated, Neil & Josh will decide whether to buy or just continue to lease.
CroxleyTandoori says...
10:41pm Thu 13 Sep 12
arthur horsefield wrote:
Drinking in the pub will ultimately see money go in to that idiots pocket, when the new guys own the freehold and until then I will not be spending my money in there.
You're an idiot as well. Bassini has leased the Pub to two Watford men. After a year he will sell to them if all goes well. Where is the problem? If the pub does not go well the pub will probbaly close again. Give Neil and Josh a chance and stop moaning about Basini he has gone.
Get in there and spenm money so in a year Neil and Josh have enough to buy the Freehold. If you done understand this you are probably retarded.
So Tandori u plonker if we all spend our cash in that place Mr Bassini's price will go up come sell time!
If we don't spend our hard earned cash it will be sold cheaply at the end of the season!
I believe Bassini has had his fair share of the pie!
Anyway how can we all drink in there? It's the smallest pub in Watford!
Go away Tandori boy and grow up
Boycott the pub, no sale and Bassini stays involved as a 25 year lessor, drink there => N&J buy and B is gone.
Presumably they haven't yet agreed to buy outright because the are worried about idiots like you who might chose to boycott due to flawed logic !
palmeris60
says...
10:09am Fri 14 Sep 12
Dr,Oftaw
says...
10:12am Fri 14 Sep 12
Bill_O wrote:used to play for their football team watford reds in the olympian league,quality : ) deeny would have fit right in!
Bring back The Robert Peel!
londomollari
says...
11:21am Fri 14 Sep 12
jasonwatford says...
5:56pm Thu 13 Sep 12