Our beautiful village is becoming a ghost town after two of its three pubs closed within hours of each other
LOCALS are fearing for the future of their village after two of its three pubs closed for good on the same day.
The landlords of The Three Blackbirds and The Spotted Dog in Flamstead, Herts, have both now pulled their last pints.
Thousands of people flock to the village every August for the Flamstead Scarecrow Festival.
Simon Goodwin, who has lived in the village for 29 years, told the Daily Mail that the closure of both pubs was a major blow.
He said: “It’s a crying shame the two pubs will not be there this year. That’s when these places make their money.”
Soaring energy bills and high inflation have made trading conditions untenable for pubs across the country.
Wetherspoons initially announced plans to close 32 pubs back in September, before announcing further closures in November.
Gareth Farr, landlord of The Three Blackbirds, told the Daily Mail that he was forced to close due to rising costs.
He said: “The village is devastated, they’re absolutely mortified that they’re losing two of the pubs, let alone one.”
Mr Farr added: “We need around £5,500 a week just to break even.
When I moved in nine months ago, it was £4,500.
“Over nine months, we’re talking about an extra £1,000 a week.
“The two pubs being so close to each other made it great for the locals to unwind a little bit.”
“The two pubs complemented each other. The Spotted Dog had their gastro kind of set up, while we are a traditional English pub, so I think the two worked quite well.
“But I now believe that running a village pub is not a viable business option unless you’ve got a lot of money to lose.
“It’s been very stressful. It’s hard work. I have a construction company as well but the pub life is certainly harder than construction.”
In a notice posted on its website, The Spotted Dog said: “It is with a heavy heart that we must announce the difficult decision to close our much-loved local village pub.
“Over the past couple of years, we have invested much time, energy, and resources into running The Spotted Dog.
“However, despite our best endeavours, the economic climate and rising costs have made it impossible to keep the pub running.”
Ros and Edward Thomas have lived in the village for 47 years and said the closures ‘are very sad’.
Mrs Thomas said she often visited The Spotted Dog for a coffee meeting once a week and believes the pubs played an important role in the local community.
She added: “I know people in the village that would go every day for coffee and read a newspaper. I think there does need to be a meeting place for people.
“But is anybody in the current economic climate going to make a go of running a pub? Is anybody going to take it on? That’s what I worry about.”