02/08/2026
AN OPEN MESSAGE TO OUR COMMUNITY – AND ANYONE CONSIDERING TAKING ON THE BELL
Firstly, we want to say thank you.
Since announcing that we will be leaving The Bell at the end of August, the response has been overwhelming. Over 140 sad reactions and dozens of comments asking us not to leave have shown us just how much this pub means to people.
The question we keep being asked is:
"Why are you leaving?"
The truth is, this is not what we wanted.
For months we have tried to deal with matters privately and professionally. We chose not to make things public because we genuinely hoped a solution could be found.
Sadly, we have now reached the point where we have no choice but to move on.
Running a village pub is not as simple as people often think. Behind the scenes there are huge weekly costs before a single penny of profit is made. These include:
• Rent
• Beer and cellar supplies
• Gas and electricity
• Staff wages
• Food costs
• Insurance
• Repairs and maintenance
• Licences
• Card fees
• Waste and other operating costs
We worked tirelessly to make The Bell a success. We invested our own time, money and energy into improving the pub, creating events, increasing trade, building relationships and making it a place the community could be proud of. The response from you has shown us that we created something special.
Unfortunately, despite all of our efforts, the financial reality became impossible to sustain.
The current position surrounding our tenancy, alongside our own financial circumstances, means we are no longer in a position to continue purchasing beer and barrels in the normal way.
We have made the decision not to use our other limited companies to support what is a personal tenancy — because we believe that would not be the right or responsible thing to do. That decision has resulted in significant personal financial hardship for us, but we believe it is the correct approach.
We have raised our concerns formally with Admiral and have given them the opportunity to respond. They have requested 14 days to provide that response, and we will respect that process.
One point we feel is important for people to be aware of: We have seen that Admiral are now seeking new tenants for The Bell, and the advertised rent has been reduced by £200 PER WEEK compared with what we were paying. We will not speculate on why that decision has been made — but we believe it is a relevant fact that prospective tenants should be aware of when carrying out their own enquiries.
To anyone considering taking on The Bell, our advice is simple:
✅ Do your due diligence
✅ Ask every question you need answered
✅ Understand the full financial commitments
✅ Get important information in writing
✅ Make sure the opportunity is right for you before making a commitment
Every new tenant deserves the opportunity to make a fully informed decision.
As part of leaving, we will be returning the outside area to its original layout. The garden was something we created and invested in to improve your experience and give the community a better space to enjoy. As we are leaving the tenancy, we will be removing it and returning it back to a car park. This is not something we take pleasure in doing — we invested in The Bell because we believed in its future.
Once Admiral's response period has passed, we intend to share a full timeline of events, together with the relevant correspondence and documents that explain how we reached this point — so people can see the facts and make their own judgement.
This is not about bitterness or seeking sympathy.
It is about transparency.
The Bell belongs to the community — and the people who supported us deserve honesty.
To every customer, every member of staff, every entertainer, every local group, every family and every person who walked through those doors — thank you.
Your support, especially over the last few days, has meant more than you will ever know.
We will continue to give everything we have during our final weeks and make sure The Bell gets the farewell it deserves.
And when the time is right, we will let the facts speak for themselves.
