‘Christmas Eve is ruined’ cry punters as major pub chain with more than 300 venues suddenly shuts down popular boozer

A MAJOR pub chain with more than 300 venues has abruptly closed a popular boozer right before Christmas

The Duke of Edinburgh pub in Barming has pulled the shutters down and cancelled its New Year's Eve party.

1

The Maidstone pub that is run by Sheperd Neame closed down this week and posted a statement for its customers on Facebook.

It read: "I regret to inform you that as of today The Duke of Edinburgh will be closing.

"I do have the refunds for everyone's ticket that was bought for the New Years party, please message The Dukes Facebook page with proof of your tickets to get your money returned.

"Again I am so so sorry."

Disappointed locals took to the comments expressing shock at the closure of the pub.

One said: "So sad I used the pub a lot back in the sixties had some great parties in there."

Another added: "At least they've been decent and returned peoples money.

While a third commented: "Well there is Christmas Eve ruined."

According to a local news outlet the pub has only recently undergone a huge renovations.

It also reports that the closure is just temporary while the brewery looks for new tenants.

A spokesperson for Shepherd Neame told Kent Online: "We can confirm that we are currently recruiting a new licensee to take over The Duke of Edinburgh.

“It is a traditional pub in the heart of Barming, with great potential.”

Shepherd Neame is Britain's oldest brewer with more than 300 pubs throughout London and the South East.

It is not an easy time for the hospitality sector at the moment and many are having to call time, for the very last time.

Greene King recently pulled the shutters down on one of its locations last month.

The pub chain, which has more than 1,600 branches across the country, shut down The Beacon in Basingstoke in early November.

At the time, a spokesperson for the chain confirmed that The Manor House in Portsmouth would also close, but did not reveal when.

Inflation remains stubbornly high meaning households have less expendable cash to burn.

Increased energy and wage costs are piling further pressure on businesses.

Hospitality chiefs have warned that ten thousands pubs are at risk of closing if the sector is hit by a £1billion tax blow.

Popular pub chain Wetherspoons has closed 34 pubs in the last 18 months and has also put 27 more up for sale in the last year.

Meanwhile, Stonegate, the group which runs Yate's and Slug and Lettuce pubs, sparked fury by hiking the price of drinks from 5pm to 7pm to offset rising operational costs.

The "dynamic pricing" strategy has seen some punters charged £7.60 instead of £7.05 at peak times.

High street retailers are also struggling with 2023 seeing many big names disappearing from the high street.

Cath Kidston, Paperchase, M&Co and popular discounter Wilko have all crashed into administration this year.

However, Wilko has since made a shock return to the high street with branches opening up in Plymouth, Exeter and Luton.

Paperchase has also reopened inside 250 Tesco supermarkets.