It’s always sad to hear of pubs closing, but this one really stopped me in my tracks because The Weyhill Fair, near Andover, in Hampshire, is a former local of mine.
Photograph: Fuller’s
It’s been a Fuller’s pub for about 20 years now, but I well remember it’s days as a popular freehouse. It’s named after a well-known historic country fair, a venue which inspired Thomas Hardy in the Mayor of Casterbridge. It’s there that the mayor, Michael Henchard, famously sells his wife.
I’ve been in Cornwall for several years now, but I find it hard to imagine that the pub isn’t the buzzing, busy venue I knew of old. But it’s due to close its doors on Sunday at 8pm.
In a Facebook post today, licensee Claire Revius said the long-term viability of the pub was too uncertain, given the continuing rise in the cost of products and utilities.
“I am terribly sad to be leaving the Weyhill Fair,” said Claire. “As you’re all aware, I do have such an emotional attachment to the pub. I have tried my absolute best, but it’s simply not viable for the pub to continue.
“What Fuller’s decide to do from here I do not know. I have been in discussions with them for several months and they, like myself, agree it’s not a viable business, just like many others in this industry.”
Meanwhile, in more bad news, the Brighton branch of Craft Beer Co is closing temporarily “due to a large-scale fraud/theft committed by a trusted senior team member”.
Again, this is another company I’ve admired over the years, and in whose premises I’ve had some great time. “These are extraordinarily hard times for pubs, so this is extra painful for all of us at the CBC family,” said a spokesperson on social media.
