A Lancashire pub has been forced to temporarily close its doors after kitchen staff left their jobs for better paid roles in another local business.

Stanhill Pub and Kitchen, in Oswaldtwistle, made the announcement yesterday (5 September) adding that they hope to be back open on 23 September.

Brain Healy, manager of the business, thinks his “unlucky” situation is linked to the wider staff shortage issue occurring in the industry right now.

Writing on Facebook, Brian said: “As you are no doubt aware, hiring in the hospitality industry has become difficult, particularly when looking for trained chefs.

“As a result, trained chefs are in demand and short term wage offers have risen.

“As an employer, I have always offered all staff a competitive hourly rate/salary, a good working environment and the opportunity to learn and grow.

“I’ve done all I can to nurture and grow a happy and motivated team.

“However, this week my kitchen team has been offered roles elsewhere at rates of pay that would make The Stanhill unsustainable.

“They have decided to accept these offers and have all left my employment as of today. I am unable to fill these positions at such short notice.

“It is with regret that I write this, particularly after the last 18 months, but I am forced to close The Stanhill for a couple of weeks.

“I will spend this time hiring and rebuilding our kitchen team, reflecting upon the last few months of operation and considering how we will operate over the coming months and years.”
At the time of writing, the post has been shared 85 times and had received 191 comments.

Many people flocked to the comment section to offer words of support to the pub.

One person wrote: “What a shame I have worked for Brian on many occasions since 1996 and he is one of the best and fair employers I have had the privilege to work for.”

Another wrote: “The comeback is always better than the fall… you have a business to be very proud of.

“You have employed many locals who now have a great work ethic thanks to the Stanhill team.”

51-year-old Brian, who has been in charge of the pub for almost four years, said he has lost four staff members in the last three months.

The business is still on the hunt for a talented head chef so they can reopen. 

Brian adds that he is “not bitter” about the most recent staff leavers and said they were being offered “silly money” by another local business.

He added that the two staff members initially gave a month’s notice but only completed two of these weeks after a rival business asked them to leave early.

He said: “I pay quite well and my staff were on good wages.

“However, the money they are being offered at the place they’re going to is silly money.

“I couldn’t match it – it just wouldn’t have made my business sustainable.

“Obviously, I haven’t had enough time to restaff the kitchen so I am closing to give myself enough time to get my staffing levels back up.”

“I can’t blame them,” he added. “If I were their age and saw a job notice like that I may have done the same thing.

“However, I do feel a little bit let down that they have cut their notice short – but I do not blame them for wanting to earn more money and better their career.

“The money they’ve been offered, they won’t get offered that very often elsewhere.”

Brian added that he has been “unlucky” in having to temporarily close but insists that his problems reflect the wider staff and supply shortages happening in the industry right now

He said: “I think it is linked to the issues with staffing and supplies that we are having in the trade at the moment.

“It’s an industry-wide issue that many pubs and restaurants are having.

“We’re struggling to get just your basic materials as they’re not coming into the country at the moment.

“For instance, the price of fish has gone up massively.”

Restaurant chain, Wagamama, recently revealed difficulty in hiring chefs across a fifth of its restaurants.

Similarly, the lorry driver shortage has seen big firms such as Tesco and Asda offering £1,000 starting bonuses for new recruits, while Amazon is also offering £1,000 “golden hellos” to attract new warehouse workers amid soaring demand for online shopping.

Director-general of the Confederation of British Industry, Tony Danker, said labour shortages are biting across the economy, adding: “While the CBI and other economists still predict growth returning to pre-pandemic levels later this year, furlough ending is not the panacea some people think will magically fill labour supply gaps.

“These shortages are already affecting business operations and will have a negative impact on the UK’s economic recovery.

“Other European countries are also experiencing staffing shortages as their economies bounce back.

“In the UK, many overseas workers left during the pandemic, affecting sectors including hospitality, logistics and food processing, and new immigration rules make replacing those who left more complex.

“The Government’s ambition that the UK economy should become more high-skilled and productive is right, but implying that this can be achieved overnight is simply wrong, and a refusal to deploy temporary and targeted interventions to enable economic recovery is self-defeating.

“some restaurant owners have had to choose between lunchtime and evening services when trying to make the most of summer.”

Has your Lancashire business been hit with supply or staff shortages? Send your story to: sarah.mcgee@newsquest.co.uk.

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