Latest news with #pubClosure
The Sun
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Popular pub announces sudden closure after ‘years transforming space' leaving customers ‘absolutely gutted'
THE sudden closure of a beloved pub and hotel has left loyal locals 'gutted'. The manager of the Rivelin Hotel in Sheffield broke the news that it would serve its last pint on 1 June. 1 The traditional pub is nestled in the picturesque Rivelin Valley in Stannington and is well known for its home-cooked meals. It scored a 4.2 rating on TripAdvisor with thousands of glowing reviews. "An excellent family pub, with scrumptious food and amazing service. Love the roast dinners and friendliness, excellent views and play area for kids," one wrote. Another echoed: "Such good value for money. Delicious food and lovely location. Had many visits to this pub and it's never disappointed." However, on May 23, management wrote a statement on Facebook, where they broke the news. The closure will affect 18 staff members. They said they "wouldn't go into detail" about the reason they've been unable to keep the pub open, but explained it was a dispute between them and the owners of the building and neighbouring farm owners. They said how they'd spent three years trying to keep the "thriving family pub" open as it was a "safe space for many people." "It is with great sadness we have to inform you that we will be closing," they wrote on Facebook. "We are absolutely gutted not only for us but for all our lovely customers , the friends we have made here and the ignorance of potentially jeopardising 18+ staff members' jobs (many of whom have children & mortgages). "We have loved every minute here and will hold many fond memories and great, strong friendships. "This pub wasn't just a business — it was a safe space, a community hub, and a place many of us called home. Simon poured thousands into transforming it into the beautiful venue it is today. "Thank You for all your love and support over the years and we look forward to seeing you all soon. "Simon, Abbie , Demi and all our lovely Rivelin Family xxx" It's not all bad news, the team are moving to the Bullshead in Ranmore, which is just seven minutes down the road. There will be a farewell party on May 31 where a free buffet will be served up. The pub's last food service will be June 1, but the new pub will have the same menu. Customers flocked to the comment section, with one writing: "So sorry to hear this. We love our Tuesday night's doing the quiz. "We love the fabulous food and all your amazing staff. Good luck to you all. See you at The Bullshead." A second wrote: "Oh no! I've been coming to the Rivelin for decades as part of walks around the valley, spent many an evening sat watching the views from the pub garden and your cheese onion and tomato quiche was legendary! "Will be a great loss to so many people - your staff are second to none! Please keep the quiche on the menu at the Bulls Head!" A host of historic pubs have shuttered across the UK in recent months too. The Ye Olde Swiss Cottage, in north west London, shut earlier this month to the disappointment of loyal customers. The Abbot's Fireside near Canterbury, which had been in business since the reign of Henry VIII, also closed for good earlier this year. Meanwhile, London boozer Dogstar shut at the end of 2024 after 150 years. The wider pub sector is coming under increasing pressure as hundreds of venues close for good. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) recently published figures which said around six pubs shut their doors for good every week last year, resulting in around 4,500 job losses. The trade body found 289 pubs across England and Wales pulled their last pints in 2024. The figures revealed London was the most-impacted area, with the capital seeing 34 sites shut for good across the year. The latest data means the number of pubs in England and Wales has plummeted from 47,613 in 2019 to 45,345 in 2024 - a drop of 2,268. What is happening to the hospitality industry? By Laura McGuire, consumer reporter MANY Food and drink chains have been struggling in recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out. Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation. Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's closing branches. Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs. Pizza giant, Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon. Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Popular pub announces sudden closure with events forced to cancel and future uncertain as owners share update
A BELOVED pub has closed down after struggling to find a new landlord. The sudden closure of The Rolleston Arms in Swindon has left event organisers desperately searching for new venues. 1 One claimed the pub had lost its licence "due to the actions of the local council and pub company", but that has since been debunked. Swindon Borough Council confirmed The Rolleston Arms had not lost its licence and that the closure is temporary. A spokesperson for Stonegate, the company that owns the pub, said: "The pub is currently closed until further notice while we look to recruit a new publican to run the premises. 'We're also going to be carrying out repair work to the site before it eventually reopens under a new publican, so it will be closed for a little while.' Stonegate also echoed Swindon Borough Council and stressed that there was no issue with the licence. This isn't the first time the pub has been closed, much to the woe of thirsty punters. It's also seen several landlords come and go. It was previously called Commercial Road Tavern and was run by Violet McLaren, who sold it in 2023. It was taken over by Daniel Harrison, but by January 2024, it was boarded up. In June that year, Charlotte Thornton and Craig Waters took over the venue. Larry Lamb reveals his Channel 5 show with his son has been AXED after he quit TV for a totally different job But they have since left the business. In February this year, The Rolleston Arms was closed again due to "unforeseen issues" with the cellar cooling system. The Sun has approached Stonegate for comment. The Rolleston Arms is far from the only British pub struggling with the uncertain times of the hospitality industry. A string of beloved pubs are closing their doors, with punters and landlords alike left heartbroken as pressures in the hospitality industry hit boiling point. In East London, the historic Gun pub in Homerton has shut down after 160 years of service. Once a bustling local favourite, the venue was brought back to life in 2014 following a major revamp by landlords Nick Stephens and his partner Hanna-Sinclair Stephens. Despite surviving the Covid crunch thanks to a heroic crowdfunding campaign that raised over £30,000 in a single day, the couple say the pub has now become 'unsustainable'. 'It was hugely popular, but we just couldn't keep going,' Nick said. 'The capacity was only 90 — the numbers just didn't add up anymore.' Meanwhile, in Nottingham, The Emerald, a vibrant Indian pub and sports bar, has also called time, just two years after opening. Dubbed a 'labour of love' by its owners, The Emerald quickly became a community favourite for curry lovers and cricket fans alike. But behind the scenes, soaring costs and the departure of a key business partner created what they described as 'emotional, financial and operational strain'. In a heartfelt post, they thanked loyal customers: 'The Emerald was always more than just a pub—it was a cultural space… Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.' Social media lit up with tributes from heartbroken regulars. One wrote: 'It was more like home to us. And even award-winners haven't been spared, a Midlands pub, hailed as the region's best and a finalist for Desi Grill of the Year 2024, has also gone under, despite its short-lived success. The wave of closures paints a grim picture for the UK pub scene, already battered by the pandemic and now facing soaring prices for rent, business rates and barrels. What is happening to the hospitality industry? By Laura McGuire, consumer reporter MANY Food and drink chains have been struggling in recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out. Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation. Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's closing branches. Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs. Pizza giant, Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon. Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Britain's ‘cheapest pub' suddenly SHUTS after 500 years because owner ‘unhappy about photos of it being shared online'
A PUB dubbed the "cheapest" in Britain has suddenly shut up shop after 500 years. Locals have been left shocked after the owners revealed a bizarre reason with a notice on the door. 3 3 The Abbey, Derby, posted the handwritten note on the door saying they were unhappy about photos of it being shared online. The 22-word notice reads: "Closed!! "Due to someone posting pictures of the Abbey on social media. Sam Smith has taken the alcohol and closed these premises." Samuel Smith's Brewery owns the pub and it has been suggested the current landlords had broken policies and were dismissed as a result. The brewery operates 200 pubs across the UK and is known for it's strict rules from owner Humphrey Smith. Such rules include a no-swearing policy, no televisions or jukeboxes and a ban on the use of mobile phones or laptops in its public houses. Just days prior to the closure, a Facebook account with more than 125,000 followers posted 18 pictures of the pub, inside and out. The Great British Pub Crawl account, a page run by Dale Harvey and his wife, Holly, follows the couple as they attempt to visit every boozer in the UK. They posted the photos on Saturday, May 17 alongside the caption: "Not every day you are asked to grab photos or a video in a Sam Smith's pub." It's not clear whether the post was the reason behind the closure. The pub is one of the last surviving buildings from an extensive monastery, dating back to the 15th century. The sudden closure has left locals stunned, with many taking to social media to express their disappointment and confusion. While the brewery has offered no official explanation, insiders suggest the landlords were dismissed for allowing, or failing to prevent, photos of the pub being shared online, a clear breach of company policy. The closure marks yet another abrupt ending for a Samuel Smith's venue, following similar shutdowns in Bradford and London, and raises fresh questions about the brewery's management style and the long-term viability of its rule-heavy model in the digital age. The Abbey is far from the only British boozer pulling its last pint. A string of beloved pubs are closing their doors, with punters and landlords alike left heartbroken as pressures in the hospitality industry hit boiling point. In East London, the historic Gun pub in Homerton has shut down after 160 years of service. Once a bustling local favourite, the venue was brought back to life in 2014 following a major revamp by landlords Nick Stephens and his partner Hanna-Sinclair Stephens. Despite surviving the Covid crunch thanks to a heroic crowdfunding campaign that raised over £30,000 in a single day, the couple say the pub has now become 'unsustainable'. 'It was hugely popular, but we just couldn't keep going,' Nick said. 'The capacity was only 90 — the numbers just didn't add up anymore.' Meanwhile, in Nottingham, The Emerald, a vibrant Indian pub and sports bar, has also called time, just two years after opening. Dubbed a 'labour of love' by its owners, The Emerald quickly became a community favourite for curry lovers and cricket fans alike. But behind the scenes, soaring costs and the departure of a key business partner created what they described as 'emotional, financial and operational strain'. In a heartfelt post, they thanked loyal customers: 'The Emerald was always more than just a pub—it was a cultural space… Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.' Social media lit up with tributes from heartbroken regulars. One wrote: 'It was more like home to us. Watching India win the World Cup there was unforgettable.' And even award-winners haven't been spared, a Midlands pub, hailed as the region's best and a finalist for Desi Grill of the Year 2024, has also gone under, despite its short-lived success. The wave of closures paints a grim picture for the UK pub scene, already battered by the pandemic and now facing soaring prices for rent, business rates and barrels. 3
