‘Now the village is dead. It’s awful’: why was one of Britain’s best pubs forced to close?
Article about the closure of a 400-year-old pub, The Hare and Hounds in Bowland Bridge, and pub closures in general.
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As the article suggests, this is simply one example of trend over a number of decades.
There’s been a number of factors. In rural areas, drink driving laws started to hit pubs from the 1970s. Later, the smoking ban hit everywhere and, in particular, small pubs in city and town centres which did not have the space to diversify into serving food. Then Brexit hit the urban areas again - there were no longer East European staff enjoying working here for a year or so, while improving their English. And now the various economic problems are hitting everywhere. You really wouldnt want to be in hospitality these days.
By the by, it was disappointing to read in the article that the Punch Bowl at Crosthwaite is up for sale. Always a good place for lunch or dinner.
Not to be particularly missed will be the Old Rectory, mentioned in the article, and nearish to me in Stockport. It’s been a bottom end chain pub restaurant for several years. I don’t think I’ve ever been tempted to eat at a Hungry Horse. Lovely building through
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