Ko blow for pub named after champ boxer Jack
BODELL’S ONLY OPENED IN 2019 BUT IS CLOSING FOR GOOD
A DERBYSHIRE pub will close at the end of the year due to rising costs and the impact of Covid-19.
Bodell’s, in Belmont Street, Swadlincote, will shut its doors for the final time on New Year’s Eve just over two-and-a-half years after it opened.
Named after former British heavyweight champion boxer Jack Bodell, the real ale pub, owned by Pete Spittles and Ashley Ayling, has blamed rising costs and a drop in custom as key reasons for the decision.
A spokesperson said: “It is with a heavy heart that we announced Bodell’s will be closing at the end of 2021, with our last day of trading being New Year’s Eve.
“An unforeseen increase in our overheads, in conjunction with rising supply costs and a significantly reduced footfall, has resulted in the business becoming unsustainable.
“We have not taken this decision lightly, however the reasons above, compounded by the effects of the coronavirus have resulted in Bodell’s becoming unviable in its current form. All our staff and suppliers will be paid in full, as we have continued to do previously throughout the pandemic. We will also offer all our staff alternative positions at our sister venues.
“We would like to take this opportunity to give a heartfelt thanks to all our customers, staff and suppliers for their support since we opened in May 2019 and through the recent uncertain times.
“We encourage you to come and say goodbye, and make the most of us while we are still here.”
Staff will be relocated to one of two sister pubs, The Last Heretic, in Station Street, and Beeropolis, in High Street, also in Burton.
Bodell’s opened in May 2019, in the unit which formerly housed The Yard restaurant and bar and then Moza HQ, an Indian restaurant that closed in January 2019.
The pub was named after the British boxing legend, who was born in Newhall.
Bodell, a British, European and Commonwealth heavyweight champion, won 58 of his 71 fights, which included 31 knockouts, after getting into boxing at the gym in the Royal Oak pub in Newhall.
He retired from boxing in 1972 and later ran the Knockout fish and chip shop in Coventry. It was opened by Muhammad Ali, the three-times world champion, with whom Mr Bodell sparred but never fought. As well as fighting Henry Cooper, on one occasion, Bodell was told by well known sportswriter Desmond Hackett that the latter would clean every window in his house if he beat Joe Bugner in a bout. After Bodell’s win, Hackett turned up with a bucket and cloth.
Speaking at the opening of the pub in 2019, Mr Bodell’s son Mark said: “He would have loved it. When he left Hartshorne and moved over to Coventry, because he had bought a business, he still had friends and family round here.
“Every opportunity, which usually were Fridays, he’d come back over to Swadlincote and meet up with his friends at the pub, have a game of dominoes.
“I think he would have appreciated someone doing this for his memories, I think he would have appreciated that.
“Whenever he came back, his heart was always in Swadlincote. Because of his circumstances he didn’t live here for quite a while, but his heart was always in the town.
“He never forgot the people, he never forgot his roots. He was a Swad lad born and bred.”
Mr Bodell died in November 2016, aged 76, after suffering dementia.