11:40am Thursday 23rd October 2008
A POPULAR watering hole could be closing its doors at the end of next month due to rocketing rent prices.
Alan and Marian Coleshill, bought The Woodman pub eight years ago after the 400 -year-old building had become derelict.
The couple turned it into a thriving community pub but since the smoking ban came into force last year, they say things have spiralled out of control.
They are today left to face the fact that they might have to close down on November 1 and possibly become bankrupt because they cannot afford to pay the rent.
It was increased by the brewery, Enterprise Ltd, from £42,000 a year to around £56,000 a year.
Alan said: “The exact same time the smoking ban came in last year was the time our rent went up.
“Things just seemed to snowball out of control towards the end of the year and then two of our cheques to the brewery bounced, causing us to get fined.
“This left us with more problems and it just seemed like things were going wrong after then.”
Alan, 60 and Marian, 53, are in talks with a lawyer to help them work with the brewery to sort out a deal. If not they will go bankrupt.
Marian said: “It got to a point when we thought enough was enough, we can’t keep up with this.
“But when I we told people they didn’t want us to go and I felt sorry for them, because our customers are the community.
“People know us for who we are and what we have made the pub today.
“Everything we have earned we have put back into the pub, we haven’t taken anything for ourselves.
“But when it came to the crunch, we were just so far into debt that we couldn’t turn around.”
Brian Steer, 71, of Haydon Drive, said he has been a regular at the pub since Alan and Marian took over.
He said: “I think it disgusting the way brewery are treating them. They both do so much for us and it is unreasonable the way they are being treated.
“The pub is our community hall, we all know each other. I have been going every day since they opened it.
“It would be a terrible loss for everyone.”
Two Facebook groups have been set up by customers and residents, showing the love people have for Alan, Marian and the pub.
The description for one reads: “This is the group for all of you who drink in The Woodman and appreciate what a massive loss it would be to the community if it closes down.”
Enterprise, said it would not comment on issues which are on-going with pubs it owns.
© Copyright 2001-2010 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.hillingdontimes.co.uk