Elderly punters have seen their social lives disappear since a popular watering hole was sold and closed one year ago.

That’s the view of Richard Lewis, chairman of Save the Admiral Man committee, which is currently working to reopen the 134-year-old pub.

The boozer, in Hargrave Place, Holloway, is subject to redevelopment plans for six flats. The pub would be retained, but Save the Admiral Mann claim it would be too small.

In the pouring rain last Sunday, a year to the day since the pub closed, 50 former punters gathered outside for a barbeque as a show of strength for their campaign.

Committee chairman Mr Lewis, 33, said: “A lot of people hadn’t actually seen each other since the closure, so it was quite moving. It shows how much the pub meant to people and why we are fighting for it.

“Some of the older ones were saying their social lives have all but gone because there are so few other appropriate pubs nearby. It’s not just that, but sports teams have also folded or moved on.

“What was a focal point of the community has been lost. It has really taken away from the area.”

The application, by Josh Moore, is to be considered by Camden Council. Genesis Architects, representing Mr Moore, claim it would provide much-needed additional housing in London.

But the pub is registered as an asset of community value, which Mr Lewis, of the nearby York Way Estate, believes will protect it at the planning consideration stage.

And he is confident the Admiral Mann will eventually reopen: “We have built up a lot of momentum over the last year. More and more people have been helping us and offering expertise for our campaign.

“We feel we are building to a point where it will become clear flats are not viable, and hopefully the developer will allow a pub operator to take over.

“We are confident the pub would be a viable business for someone. This certainly isn’t a charity case. It represents our heritage, but if reopened would be a benefit to us all.”

To view the application, visit the planning section of Camden Council’s website using reference 2015/4456/P. The deadline for comments is next Thursday (September 10).