Cost of living crisis: The Park in Great Harwood to close

The Park, on Harwood Lane, Great Harwood, will close its doors next week and its last day of trading will be this Sunday (September 4).

Owners, Craig and Darina Currie, say they can’t afford to keep the pub open as the cost of living crisis rages on.

They said: “It is with an extremely heavy and broken heart we have made a decision to close the doors of The Park from Monday, September 5.”

Craig and Carina said their problems began with the Covid pandemic which they described as an “incredibly difficult 12 to 18 months”.

They said: “Many businesses have either never come out of the other side or were scarred beyond words, including us.

“When we finally thought things were looking up, we are now facing an even bigger crisis… constant rising cost of beer, food and most importantly the utilities.

“We simply can't afford to keep the pub open based on the current situation. It is sad but unavoidable, the numbers don’t add up and things are going to get more difficult.”

According to the couple, the pub group which owns the site, Admiral Taverns, said they “can't find anyone, for now, to run it”.

They said: “Hopefully this won't be forever but in this current climate we just don't know.

“We want to thank you all so much for your support over the years. We have been privileged to have met you all.

“We have made some amazing lifelong friends and some fabulous memories that will last a lifetime.

“We also want to take this opportunity to thank all our loyal staff for all their hard work.

“We will contact all the customers regarding any future bookings and inform them."

Since making the announcement, dozens have left messages of support for the current landlords.

One person said: “You brought a real sense of community to The Park and everything you have done for local charities.

“You truly will be sorely missed. Good luck in your next venture, whatever that may be.”

Another said: “Absolutely wounded that you're closing but it's understandable. Thank you for your hospitality, excellent service and food over the years.”

“So sorry to hear, you really put your all into this,” said a third.

“The Park is a lovely, friendly place and I always enjoy food there. You will be well and truly missed by so many locals.”

Admiral Taverns is currently looking for a new tenant to take over the pub. It is listed on their website for £21,000.

The Lancashire Telegraph’s beer columnist, Mark Briggs, said the pub’s closure came as a shock to him.

He said: “It came as quite a shock to see that the pub is closing at the weekend.

“It has a great reputation both for beer and for food. It is a very well-established and popular pub that has built up a good reputation over the years.

“I visited a few months ago and thought it was a friendly pub with a range of cask ales on – so its closure is likely to be a bit of a blow for ale drinkers in the region.”

He predicts that it won’t be the only pub in the county to close.

He said: “The Park’s closure indicated to me the gravity of the situation facing local pubs.

“I am quite fearful for the upcoming winter months and the future of pubs.

“Unfortunately, I think there might be a few more shock pub closures in the coming months.”

A spokesperson for Admiral Taverns said: “We have 1,600 pubs across the country, and work hard in partnership with all our licensees to help them run sustainable pub businesses.

"However, there are inevitably instances where we do have to part company with our licensees.

"After careful consideration of the business in its current format, the licensee at The Park Bar and Restaurant has taken the decision to leave and we are in the process of looking for a new licensee to take on the pub, and ensure its long-term, sustainable future.”

The Park’s closure comes as brewery bosses warn that sky-high energy bills could force some pubs to shut.

The bosses of six of the UK’s biggest pub and brewing companies have signed an open letter to the Government urging it to act in order to avoid “real and serious irreversible” damage to the sector.

Small businesses are facing a crisis with soaring energy prices driving up operating costs and making it impossible for some owners to make a profit, Andrew Turner, chief operating officer of St Austell Brewery, told Sky News on Tuesday.

“Unlike consumers, there is no energy price cap for small businesses therefore we are seeing spiralling costs for our tenants, pubs, and breweries,” Mr Turner said.

“It is totally wiping out the profits they are making, which questions why on earth they would want to open their doors going forward.”

Mr Turner said that to avoid a potentially “catastrophic” situation, the Government needs to provide greater leadership and more support for the struggling sector.

“At the moment, it feels like we are sat in the ether, with no significant leader at the top to make decisions” he added.

“We need the Government to step forward to make decisions, to support our sector, and make sure such a cornerstone of UK business can get through this tough time.”

The boss added that the sector was able to rebuild after the damage caused by the pandemic, but that it was now facing another crisis that was completely out of its control.

A Government spokesperson said: “No government can control the global factors pushing up the price of energy and other business costs, but we will continue to support the hospitality sector in navigating the months ahead.”