11th HOUR BID TO KEEP HARVEYS

The beer is due to be removed by owners Greene King on Sunday.

But discussions are going on in the background.

Lewes MP Norman Baker met GK operations director Kris Gumbrell on Friday to try and thrash out a solution.

He also presented Mr Gumbrell with a 1,200-signature petition calling for Harveys to stay at the town centre hostelry.

On Wednesday Mr Gumbrell told the Express: 'We had a very positive meeting with Norman Baker.

'We are more than happy to consider serving Harveys Bitter as part of a guest ale programme.

'We hope to foster a relationship with Harveys which is of benefit to both breweries.'

Hamish Elder, joint managing director at Harveys, said: 'We are in discussion with Greene King but it is not a simple matter.

'We have asked in the past if we could buy the Lewes Arms and Greene King, at this time, are saying no.'