Stonegate-owned Alveston pub The Ferry gets a new landlord after last one departed over financial viability
EVEN though the Ferry Inn in Alveston shut its doors in late July, regulars continue to gather on its outdoor patio – a focal point of village life for 150 years.
Residents miss the much-loved pub and are hopeful that, despite the allegedly bad experience of the most recent landlord, it can still be a going concern.
Resident Michaela Edwards said: “We get together to keep the village spirit alive and for many people it was their lifeblood in the community to meet and have a chat and enjoy a bit of summer drinking.
“The Ferry is right in the heart of the village and ideally I’d like to see it bought freehold.”
However the pub is owned by property developer and pub company Stonegate, which says it has found a tenant after the previous landlord, Chris Burton, left on 29th July.
The rent is £28,000 per annum, with start-up of £13,000, and Stonegate estimate it has a potential turnover of £336,000.
Mr Burton told the Herald that business was good during his time there but threw in the towel due to escalating costs.
Mr Burton explained: “I’ve been in in the trade since I was 19 and I’ve never known such escalating costs.
“I wanted a two-to-three-year tenancy, but Stonegate wanted five and with the potential increase of rental costs it simply wasn’t viable. Stonegate charged £198 for a nine-gallon barrel of beer but I know of breweries that charge £100.
“I received news that everything – beer, wine and spirits – was going up by 15 per cent and that was being passed onto customers. It’s a shame because we had a good go at it, made a lot of friends and had a really nice relationship with the residents and nurses at Alveston Leys Care Home who enjoyed sitting in the front garden and enjoying a cup of tea and the sunshine. It was somewhere different for them to go.”
A spokesperson for Stonegate said: “The publican at the Ferry made the decision to serve notice in line with the terms of his agreement as he is entitled to do.
“We are delighted to confirm we have recruited a new publican, and the pub will reopen mid-September, making sure the Ferry remains a key part of the local community.”
Mr Burton is not the only landlord to have struggled to make a success of a Stonegate pub.
Chris Creassy is managing director of the Melt Pub Company, who run the Cross Keys.
At one stage Mr Creassy was in charge of the Paddock, (formerly the Salmon Tail), The Bull in Bull Street and also the Keys.
He told the Herald: “I have since handed the Paddock back to Stonegate who got a new landlord in but it’s closed now and there’s a rumour knocking around in the trade is that it will be sold for residential flats.
“I also handed the Bull back to Stonegate who sold it to Everards and it became El Toro last October but it’s closed now and I’ve heard it might become a wet pub again,” Mr Creassy added.
Another Stonegate pub, The Granville Arms in Barford, also saw its landlord, Keith Marsden, leave citing financial woes
Commenting on the Granville closure, the Stonegate spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, we were unable to negotiate a more sustainable position with the former publican. As a result, an exit date was agreed and a new publican was identified, with fantastic plans for the pub.
“We were obviously disappointed we were not able to reach an agreement, but our new publican has ambitious plans for the pub and we are confident it will remain very much at the heart of the local community long into the future.”it for a new Publican. The much-loved pub has plenty of potential being situated in the heart of Stratford upon Avon.”
