Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Landlord ‘accepts defeat’ and calls last orders at pub
Award-winning venue will close in March
The landlord of a pub once recognised in the prestigious Michelin Guide is calling last orders as he says the hospitality industry is in a “scary state”. Ben Duckworth will pour his last pint at the award-winning Compasses Inn, in the rural village of Crundale between Canterbury and Ashford, on March 5.
He has announced the sad news to his customers, revealing that despite the best efforts of him and his team it is “time to accept defeat”.
“The time has unfortunately come to write the post that we never wanted to write,” Mr Duckworth said. “Despite all our efforts and hopes that we could make this business work, sadly it’s not meant to be.”
Mr Duckworth took over the pub in 2021 with renowned chef Ben Crittenden, who runs the Michelin-starred Stark restaurant in Broadstairs, but the pair parted ways shortly after. The Compasses Inn was previously owned by Rob and Donna Taylor, who received a Bib Gourmand award from the Michelin Guide during their time in charge.
Mr Duckworth - the co-founder of South London’s Affinity Brew Co - says the company has struggled with challenges brought about by the cost-of-living crisis. He added: “The cumulative effect of the multiple let downs we’ve suffered over the past year, together with the huge
increases in energy and suppliers’ costs, has in the end simply been too much to absorb. “This is an unprecedented time for the hospitality sector, it’s genuinely scary to see the state it’s in, and the businesses and people within it desperately need your support and understanding right now.
“The understandable downturn in people’s spending as an inevitable side effect of the costof-living crisis has completed this perfect storm.
“We’d like to extend our thanks to everyone who’s made us feel so welcome during our year in Sole Street. We hope we’ve made some lifelong friends and we truly hope that whoever takes over is able to continue to offer you the pub experience you so badly desired.
“We’ve tried and tried so many different things, but our best efforts haven’t been good enough and it’s time to reluctantly accept defeat.”
The Compasses Inn has a 4.5 rating on Tripadvisor and was previously ranked number eight in a list of Britain’s top 50 gastropubs.
In 2019 it also placed 19th in the UK’S 50 best Sunday Roasts – the only place in Kent to feature on that list.
The pub was threatened by closure in 2003 but was saved by Shepherd Neame and reopened after a £50,000 refurbishment under new landlady Lisa Smart, who had served behind the bar for the previous three years.
The 15th century pub has seen a long history and has hosted various community events over the years.
Staff and regulars stripped off for a series of nude calendars to raise money for cancer charities in memory of former punter Ian Parrott, who died in 2005, aged 49.
The following year, strongman Colin Anderson boosted funds to support cancer charities when he lifted a 100kg log over his head 12 times in just 75 seconds. Customers have already started to react to the announcement, expressing their sadness about the closure.
One person commented: “Really sorry to hear this but the problem is the current conditions, not you or your efforts. All the very best for the future.”
‘The cost-of-living crisis has completed this perfect storm...’