Ripon pub closes down, blaming ‘disastrous’ budget

The pub’s management said they were “disappointed” to have to close the venue, adding that increased costs for employers from the “disastrous budget” has forced them to close. 

Many regular customers have been left saddened by the shock closure, saying they will miss the “warm welcome”, “cosy atmosphere”, and “great staff”. 

 The pub announced its closure, saying: “It is with great disappointment and sadness that we announce The Staveley Arms will not be reopening its doors to customers.

“Despite our best efforts and major financial investment we have been unsuccessful in overcoming the challenges in the current environment to create a business capable of delivering the experience we want for customers balanced with a sustainable financial position.

“With further major business impacts imminent from the recent disastrous budget in the form of increased employment costs and national insurance, before even allowing for the inevitable price rises on supplies as all businesses try to combat these factors, we have concluded it is not possible to make the business sustainably viable and have made the very difficult decision to not continue.”

Most read: 

Get the latest news, sports, and entertainment delivered straight to your device by subscribing to The Northern Echo here. 

Management at the Staveley Arms have told customers that they will be attending to outstanding matters in an “orderly manner” over the coming days and weeks.

Those with bookings or vouchers will be contacted, and all staff and suppliers are to be paid – but they have asked the public to “please bear with us during this time.”

The publicans added: “We want to take this opportunity to thank the committed members of our team for their efforts, especially through the busy Christmas period and those customers who have genuinely supported us over the last 15 months as well as James, Polly, Stephen and the whole Lightwater team for their support.”

Image Credits and Reference: https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/24842174.ripon-pub-closes-blaming-disastrous-budget/?ref=rss