A LANDLORD who claims he used his life savings to transform a run-down Bury pub is facing eviction. Former Royal Marine Bernie Blezard took over the Black Bull pub on The Rock in Bury town centre 15 months ago. He says he ploughed £14,000 of his own money into the business, ridding the place of drug dealers, under-age drinkers and trouble-makers, and refurbished the pub interior and living quarters, adding a 24-seater restaurant and fitted kitchen.

But following rows with brewery bosses Whitbread over rent arrears, Mr Blezard has been told he must go.

He said: "When I took over in February last year, the place had been totally vandalised. Everything had been smashed to bits. Glasses and coolers were smashed and the living quarters covered in red paint. The place was a mess.

"I cleaned it up, got rid of the undesirables and turned the place around. I paid out £7,400 for repairs on day one."

In five months the weekly takings at the Black Bull shot up from £900 to £3,000.

Mr Blezard claims he had a verbal agreement with a former Whitbread's business development manager that he would be reimbursed for his initial outlay and his rent arrears would be taken into consideration.

But he says problems began when he stopped buying beer direct from Whitbread and the company demanded that the £4,000 arrears be paid.

Last month Mr Blezard received a letter from Whitbread bringing his agreement with the company to an end this Friday.

Mr Blezard says that due to the emotional strain, his wife and two of his children have now left him and returned to their former home in Cornwall.

Mr Alan Cameron, a spokesman for Whitbread, said Mr Blezard had been served with his notice because he failed to keep to the terms of his agreement.

He said: "We have worked extremely hard and have given Mr Blezard every chance to get back on track with us. Unfortunately it has come to this.

"We believe we have done everything possible to help him."

He added that an "adjacent amount" to the initial outlay made by Mr Blezard would be paid to him.

But Blezard added: "I am very disenchanted with the way Whitbread treat their tenants.

"What I want from them is what I started with. They can have the pub. Regretfully I will walk away. But I am not prepared to lose my wife and kids, and every penny I've made, and incur £11,000 worth of debts for them."

A temporary manager will take over at the Black Bull from Friday.

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