THE managers of a Huddersfield town centre pub say they were forced to shut up shop after the owners doubled their rent.
As reported in the Examiner on Wednesday Victoria Lane boozer the Albert closed last week.
Enterprise Inns, which owns it, refused to reveal why.
But Jim King and Madge Woodcock, who were running it, have since told the Examiner they could not afford to keep it open.
Madge said: “They wanted to double the rent. The figure they were proposing meant the pub would have been completely unviable as a business.
“We had already had to lay off some staff and had spent thousands of pounds of our own money on the business.
“We were doing everything we could and thought that if we continued to pay the rent at the same level we could try to build it up.
“But with the combination of the rent and the overheads it was a waste of time trying to carry on.
“The rent would have been reasonable for a town centre pub that was thriving, but we were still trying to re-establish it.
“We are very sad and disappointed to go. We feel let down.”
The couple had only reopened the pub 14 months ago after it had shut suddenly and was closed for four months.
Jim said: “We considered the rent they were asking for exorbitant.
“You always have regrets and we met some really nice people. We like to think we did our best. But in the end we were in an impossible position.”
Regular customer Brian Lawrence said: “There had been an increase in customers, a good choice of beers, excellent food and friendly and helpful staff.
“The way they have been treated sticks in my throat a bit.”
Enterprise Inns refused to comment on the rents issue. They said the pub was due to reopen again soon with a new licensee.
