A VILLAGE has seen two pubs closed down in the same week.
The Crown Inn and The Foresters Arms at Yoxall have both confirmed they have shut their doors.
In a statement posted online, bosses at The Crown Inn blamed a a “perfect storm” for their decision to close on 4th January.
In a statement they said the decision was not one they had wanted to take.
“After two years of hard work, money and trying everything we can to building The Crown back up, we have decided we can’t continue.
“The combination of health issues, escalating costs and decreased footfall, combined with a poor economic outlook, are a perfect storm for us and much of the industry.
“It’s a sad decisionto have to make, having made some good friends along the way. We thank everyone for the support and kind words over the last few weeks.
“We know any new tenant will have a beautiful pub and a willing community to work with, and we hope they continue the long story of The Crown.”
Meanwhile, bosses at The Foresters Arms have also called time on the business.
A spokesperson said:
“The current state of the economy, Government and operating costs have made the business unviable, so we have made the heartbreaking decision to close with immediate effect.
“We are very saddened to have to do this as we have created mostly happy memories, but the fact has to be faced that the industry has changed and although our lunchtime trade has been strong, the dinner trade has suffered massively since Labour’s election win and that will not get any easier given the impending budget in March.
“People’s habits have either changed or been forced to change, but the bottom line is they’ve changed in favour of not casual dining as they used to before.”
Hmm……no doubt the economic climate and the disastrous Labour budget haven’t helped but on the bottom of this story there is an article about a pub with a quarter million being spent on it and in Lichfield new hospitality businesses are opening all the time recently. Looks to me like location and the quality of the offer are the biggest issues here. You’ve got to be good to be busy and then stay busy. As a punter that can only mean better service and an improved product. Get with the times or perish.
If folk were not going they must be a mediocre establishments. The Red Lion in London and the Trooper are always busy. Must be a reason
That used to be my local back in the days of Gordon Bennet. It was a truly brilliant and convivial place.
No idea why both pubs are blaming the Government. Economic changes come and go all the time. In my experience, pubs need to offer value that is worth coming back to, and a lot of them just aren’t.
There are plenty of pubs thriving in the area. The one opposite my house is very popular, the one I went to for a family lunch at the weekend was packed! If you’re not prepared to work at a business, don’t blame things out of your control. It’s tough out there for sure but adapt or die.
Red Lion at Newborough closed last March, but the same owner blaming the Labour government for closing the Foresters.
Pathetic excuse to blame a Labour government that has only been functioning for 6 months whilst at the same time no mention of the previous incompetent, corrupt Tory shambles that has brought this country to its knees over the past 14 years!
Policies from the Labour budget would not have affected a business in the short period since announced in fact hardly any have been implemented yet.
Would be interesting to see the pubs finances since the pandemic. I would suspect a gradual decline for various reasons & not Tory owners having a dig at a Labour government. 😉
Pubs used to be places that sold reasonably priced beer and some basic catering. A night out was convivial and inexpensive. Times change and now they are restaurants with expensive beer and food. A treat perhaps rather than a habit.
A recent visit to a nice local pub set us back £40 a head. It wasn’t busy.
The bottom line is that politics play a minor part in business success. If you can’t attract enough customers then you are going to fail. This is not a local story. Pubs have been closing at an accelerating rate for years. Hard to imagine how this can be reversed.
So sad to see so many Pubs closed or closing.
The slow decline in Pubs started in 2007 “ The Smoking Ban” indoors. Along with the Darts Teams , The Pool Teams, Quiz Teams. Etc. … and other social community events. The finale came with Covid.
Sadly in many Places “ The Pub” now is not the Heart of Communities as it used to be.
Putting Food on the Table and Heating Homes is the priority.
The economy has been bad for business for years, but Brexit, COVID, rising cost of living, and supply side inflation by suppliers are all factors. Blaming it on Labour who’ve been in office for 8 months is simply an excuse for bad luck or bad business.
All we need do is wait for the huge Brexit benefits to roll in.
Any time now …
Be patient …
It’s coming
Blaming the Labour government! Pathetic excuse for a pub that has a clientele with more disposable income than most.