Future of Haxey Hood tradition ‘is in jeopardy’
CONCERNS HAVE been voiced over the future of one of the country’s oldest traditions after plans were submitted to knock down the pub closest to the site where the ancient game is played.
Every year thousands turn out for the Haxey Hood, which involves regulars from local pubs going head to head in a marathon rugby scrum-style battle to get a 2ft leather tube, known as a hood, into their favoured watering hole.
Usually four pubs take part, three in Haxey and one in Westwoodside; however, only three took part this year after 2017 winner the King’s Arms, in Haxey, was closed.
Now plans have been submitted to knock down another of the Haxey pubs, the Duke William Hotel, and build nine new homes on the Church Street site, leaving potentially just two pubs to fight it out next year.
The loss of local pubs is causing alarm. One villager said yesterday: “This is a 700-year-old tradition and it is being placed in jeopardy because of a building site. “It is probably the oldest tradition in the whole of the UK – how would you feel if it stopped because of nine housing units?”
A public meeting is being held in Haxey on February 21 to allow people to express their views. Parish council chairman Coun Dave Knowles thinks the tradition will continue whatever happens.
He said: “People will no doubt go rushing off and saying it will kill the Hood, not necessarily. But it used to happen before there were pubs.
“My personal opinion is that it will find another mechanism to carry on – you could end up with an event where you could put up a marquee, which has a beer tent. There are ways around it, with a bit of thought.”
Coun Knowles said he was concerned about the loss of a pub and the impact on the streetscene, which has been there for “aeons”, adding: “It will not look right in my view; it has been there forever.”
The Duke William has won the Hood three times since 2000, claiming victory in 2001, 2003 and 2012.
A report for North Lincolnshire Council, as part of the planning application, says the pub is no longer financially viable “as its trade balance has been at a cumulative loss over the last few years”.
It says the closure of the King’s further along High Street shows “there is broadly a falling demand” and claims “any attempt to relaunch the business would be likely unsuccessful.” It adds that The Loco is “under the applicant’s control, will continue to trade and is located just some metres away in Church Street”.