‘Sadness’ and ‘anger’ as couple close Geese and Fountain pub in Croxton Kerrial following ‘battle’ with landlords

Publicans say they are ‘sad and angry’ to have to close after a two-year fight to reach a “reasonable compromise” with their landlords.

Nick Holden and Kate Ahrens have expressed their devastation after having to close the Geese and Fountain pub in Croxton Kerrial yesterday (Monday) after almost eight years at the helm.

The closure comes after an arbritrator ruled wholly in favour of the Geese and Fountain’s landlords, the Wellington Pub Company, meaning that Nick and Kate suddenly owed £70,000 in rent arrears from during the pandemic when the pub was prevented from trading.

The couple explained that, although the debt would be repayable over two years, they “could not possibly” find an extra £3,000 a month alongside the £5,000 for ongoing rent, £3,000 on electricity and £12,000 on staff wages.

In a statement, Nick and Kate said: “We are both so very sad and angry to notify all our friends and customers that the Geese and Fountain will be closing soon, one of many victims of a combination of the UK’s exceptional economic collapse and a failure to support businesses trying to recover from the Covid pandemic.

“Having been fighting for over two years to reach a reasonable compromise with our landlords, the Wellington Pub Company, we have followed the Government’s arbitration process, and submitted evidence which we believed showed that “we needed a significant reduction in rent due for the period of restrictions, and that we had already paid all the rent that we could possibly afford for that period of time.

“We have now received the binding decision of that arbitration process.

“As our landlords, Wellington put evidence into the process that argued that our business was not viable, and that we therefore deserved no support at all. The arbitrator specifically rejected this argument, but then inexplicably went on to rule 100% in Wellingtons favour and determine that we had to pay the full amount of rent arrears relating to the entire period in which we were prevented from trading by the Covid pandemic (which means we suddenly owe over £70,000).”

Nick and Kate went on to explain that their only route of appeal against the decision was to pay lawyers to take the case to the High Court, but said that would be “impossible for a small business such as ours”.

Their statement continued: “The government knew when they passed the legislation that only big businesses would be able to challenge the results of the arbitration, and that is exactly what is happening up and down the country.

“We know we are not the only ones, but that doesn’t help.

“We have been fighting them since day one. Their failure to maintain the property of the pub, and the grounds, meant that everything we have done here has cost more money, and taken longer, than it should have done.

“The landlords have no interest in the water leaks, the inadequate heating, ventilation or insulation. Putting it simply, all they care about is getting their rent. And now we are unable to afford to pay it, they want us gone.

“They would prefer the building to be empty, and falling down. Like it was for four years before we arrived in 2015.”

The pub’s was open over the weekend for the final time, closing with a pub quiz yesterday (Monday).

Nick and Kate said: “To say we are devastated is an understatement. The Geese and Fountain has been our home, our business, our whole lives, for the past eight years.

“We have poured thousands of pounds of our own money, and that of our families, into this place, because we loved it, and we wanted it to succeed.

“We have both worked over 100 hours many weeks, and our children have grown up involved and worked (often unpaid) to help us. We have met many lovely, lovely people – as staff, as customers and as suppliers.

“But another fight with Wellington, coming on top of three of the most difficult years in the pub trade and with rising energy costs and inflation running rampant, is one we cannot hope to win.

“We have to accept defeat.The billionaires have won.

“We are so very sorry. To our staff, who will be losing their jobs. To our suppliers, who will be losing a customer. And to the community of Croxton Kerrial, and all of you in the ‘Geese & Fountain family’, who will be losing your pub.

“For you, as for ourselves, we are heart-broken. If there is a way for Croxton Kerrial and the surrounding area to keep a pub going in the village then we would do anything we can to support that aim – we would only say that running this pub as a commercial business while paying the extortionate rents that we have been asked to pay by Wellington is in our view no longer possible, if indeed it ever was.

“We can’t say we have loved every minute of the last eight years but there have been many, many wonderful memories created here and we will treasure those moments for the rest of our lives.”

The Wellington Pub Company has been approached for comment.