Closure of Wilmot Arms leaves only one pub in village
A WELL-known Borrowash pub will shut next month. The Wilmot Arms is to close its doors for the final time on Monday, August 12.
Manager Carlos Chiarella confirmed the pub, in Derby Road, Borrowash, is closing due to a decision taken by the landlord.
Once the Wilmot closes, only one pub will remain open in the village, the Nags Head in Nottingham Road.
Mr Chiarella spoke of his best memories of the Wilmot, which he has been involved in running for more than a decade.
He said: “It was a challenge because lots of pubs were closing down when we arrived 11 years ago – but we got it going.
“We renovated the pub and worked so hard to turn it into a family and community pub. I was there every day and night for the first five years and it ran smoothly. We were rammed day in, day out.
“I put so much commitment and passion into it. It was all about creating a happy environment, mixing well with people and socialising on a big level.”
But, Mr Chiarella says the pub has fallen upon hard times since he left to spend more time with his family five years ago. He noticed a drop-off in customers when he returned as manager in December.
Mr Chiarella added: “It is a labour of love, not a job, to run a pub. I had to put my family first eventually.
“It was difficult after coming back, trade died off. We’ve had about 10 managers in and it has just been ticking over
“It was the landlord’s decision to close it. It did come as a shock, it took me two or three weeks to come to terms with it going, 11 years of my life has gone into that place.”
Mr Chiarella is focusing on reopening The Canal Turn in Spondon, which closed in December.