Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Pub landlords’ final farewell as drinkers dwindle
A 19th-century pub expected to shut for the final time after struggling to attract customers could soon be revamped into a house. Landlords of the Chequers Inn near Canterbury say they “feel like failures” after “trying everything" to prevent the business from nose-diving. Paula Gilbert and Steve Mchugh in 2022 took over the beleaguered Stone Street tavern, which has abruptly swung open and shut its doors over the past 20 years.
Blaming the sudden closure on diminishing support, Ms Gilbert told the Gazette: “It's a shame, I've worked so hard and I've tried everything and it just makes me feel like a failure. “If I can't make the rent and the bills, there’s nothing else to be done. “Financially, we've tried for the last year everything that we could, we gave up everything, even our own home, to put into this place to try and keep it going. “But the support wasn’t there – especially from those same villagers who wanted us to reopen it.”
The duo revived Chequers, situated five miles outside Canterbury in May 2022, after it had been empty for three years. Their takeover came during a mass cry of support from villagers who had long tried to reopen the venue themselves. Ms Gilbert says that same support and energy has gone, leaving her no choice but to close down and move on. Paula and partner Steve are set to move back to Medway when the lease comes to an end, with continued hopes of staying in the industry. Meanwhile, current owners Lorna Monica Sukhdeo and Daniel Taylor, who bought the building in 2018, are looking to revive a 2019 plan to turn the venue into a house – a scheme previously rejected following an appeal in 2021.
In official papers recently sent to Canterbury City Council, the owners now argue the pub has been unviable for more than 10 years.
Their design and access statement says landlords’ mean hourly salary since 2011 equates to just £2.73.
“It should go without saying that a public house which has been demonstrably incapable over a sustained number of years and under different management - of paying its landlords at least the minimum wage is not financially viable,” it adds. “Periodically, over the last 25 years The Chequers Inn has been closed for a substantial amount of time.
“The location is not viable as it is situated on a main road with a speed limit of 50mph. “In the immediate area there are limited houses to financially support the pub, and the centre of Petham is a mile away.
“A mile is not a substantial distance but when you factor into the equation that a large portion of the route does not have a safe public footpath, the site soon becomes very unsustainable for walk in trade.” It states the project would not “cause any material detriment” to the area or its “rural character”.
The tavern has had a tumultuous history in recent times. Following an extended closure period, then-parish councillors Norman Clark, Scott Collins and Dane Henderson planned to purchase the pub in 2021.
They hoped to raise at least £250,000 from residents to be eligible to apply for government funding to cover the rest of the freehold’s price – which stood at £590,000.
In a review in July last year, our sister website Kentonline’s Secret Drinker found the establishment to be to his liking – but warned it would need more from the community to survive.
He said: “This is exactly the sort of pub which, not only needs, but fully deserves, to be supported by its locals. “But, sadly, it seems the response of villagers could put the future of the Chequers Inn on Stone Street, near Canterbury, in jeopardy.”
The planning application is currently awaiting a district council decision.