Pubs which weathered the pandemic have been dealt a blow by rising costs
Hospitality has not fully recovered from the pandemic – and now the cost of living crisis has hit. ALEX DAVIS reports
IT has not been an easy time for the hospitality industry in Devon with, according to the British Beer and Pub Association, 17 pubs in Devon closing their doors or being demolished between March 2020 and June 2022.
Since then, a number of public houses in the county have been forced to shut due to increasing energy prices, the high cost of living and nationwide staff shortages.
Across the county, public houses, and the vibrant personalities who run them, can act as the heart of their community. Here are some of the beloved pubs that have fallen empty this year:
The Pickwick Inn, St Anne’s Chapel, was bought by former BBC director general Greg Dyke in 2014, but has been closed since January 2022. The building has been boarded up since July. In October, residents launched a petition that has so far been signed by 170 people to turn the 15th/16th Century inn into a community asset.
The Ring of Bells, North Bovey, became one of the latest pubs to close their doors this year and ceased trading on November 1, 2022. In a message to locals and visitors, the owners of the pub, which is situated in Dartmoor National Park, thanked the staff for their “hard work” and customers for their continuous support. Dating back to the 13th century it suffered a terrible fire in January 2016 and was closed for nearly two years whilst it was rebuilt at a cost of £1.5million, reopening on December 10, 2017, with all its original charm. The inn was then listed for sale earlier this year with a price tag of £1.2million.
The Five Bells, Clyst Hydon, was known as one of the best gastropubs in Devon when it announced it would be closing its doors on November 2, 2022. In a statement by leaseholders James and Charlie, it was announced that the pub had been “struggling financially” due to the impact of two lockdowns and the state of the economy.
The 13th Century Highwayman’s Haunt pub in Chudleigh announced it was closing its doors in October. In a Facebook post to patrons and residents, pub bosses put it down to a range of factors, including “the culmination of an archaic business rates system, decreasing footfall, higher energy costs, food inflation”.
Frankie’s Bar, a sports bar on Cullompton High Street, opened last year in the former Conservative Club building, but announced it would be closing permanently on September 5, 2022.
The Bay Horse Inn, Newton Abbott, has been closed since July 2022, and was well known for it’s open fireplace and vibrant weekend events. In a short post on social media, the former owners they’d “had a fantastic time” during their 18 months, but did not disclose the reason behind the sale.
The Southgate, a prominent building on Barnstaple’s High Street, shut its doors in March 2022 and did not reopen. Once called the Hearts of Oak, the Grade II listed building is one of the oldest hostelries in the town, and was running as a bar/grill before the Coronavirus pandemic hit.
The Red Lion Inn, Exeter, closed its doors in September 2022, receiving hundreds of supportive messages from Exeter residents. The pub had previously been forced to reduce its opening hours due to difficulty finding kitchen staff.