Plans for new homes are threatening the future of a popular pub that is also used as a church.
The John O'Gaunt, in Leicester's Stadium Estate, is a large pub with a car park and outdoor seating and grass around it.
The pub is home to the Cornerstone Church of England congregation and Gaunt FC, a successful team in the Charnwood Sunday Football League.
But a new planning application from the pub's owners proposes building seven houses on the site.
That would involve removing the outdoor seating area - including all but three of the parking spaces - and about half of the pub building itself.
Landlord Kish Ravalia said the reduction in size of the pub would be devastating.
He said: "We've got a church that has met here for the past 13 years and a football team as well. Nearly all of those people come by car and use the car park.
"There's no on-street space for people to park around here so the loss of car parking will be very severe.
"There will be a big impact of losing so much space indoors and the houses will also block the access I need to get my beer barrels delivered and my rubbish taken away."
He said the pub would inevitably lose its unique character, as well as a lot of business.
He said: "This is the only place in Leicester where a pub is used as a church and they have regular quiz nights and a carol concert each December, when the pub is always completely packed."
So far the battle to stop the planning application has involved a 250-name petition and Kish said about 70 people had written letters to Leicester City Council asking it not to let the plan go ahead.
Trevor Hesselwood, a leading member of the Cornerstone church said: "This plan leaves almost no parking spaces and squashes the pub into a very small area.
"There are no other community facilities like it between Anstey Lane and Beaumont Leys Lane."
Local pub regular David Smith, 55, said: "This is the best pub in Leicester and what they want to do to it is disgusting.
"It would be the end of the pub if we lost the parking and outdoor space where Kish does barbecues and has the bouncy castle.
"He's really put his heart and soul into this place."
Anthony Harris, 63, said: "I've been coming here since 1963 and it's always been a friendly pub and a shining light of racial harmony with people from all over.
"Without a car park things would change a lot."
Tony Jarram, 60, added: "A lot of people come here by car because it's a good pub, with a good football team and all the rest.
"The outside area is really important for the kids, too."
The Mercury was unable to contact the pub's owners, ASVA Ltd, which has made the application.
