Elsted Inn landlords to leave pub after “difficult year”

The landlords of the Elsted Inn have confirmed they will be leaving the pub in early October.

Writing on social media, the couple spoke honestly about the pressure they have been under since taking over the pub last year:

“As many of you know, last winter was incredibly difficult for us. We simply couldn’t always meet the required three-barrelage because, at times, the pub didn’t warrant that level of stock.

Unfortunately, this meant we were fined.”

The couple went on to describe the amount of work they had put in trying to make the pub a welcoming place for locals:

“What we think is important for people to understand is just how much we personally put into trying to make this pub work.

We used our own savings to decorate and improve the pub to make it a nicer place for everyone and to try and make the business viable.

We didn’t just walk away when things became difficult – we kept trying because we cared about the pub, the community and all of you.”

The Stonegate Pub Group, which partnered with The Elsted Inn, eventually told the pair that they could not continue as landlords.

“Once the fines had built up to the level they had, we were never able to catch up.

We are incredibly sad, but rather than focus on the difficult ending, we want to bow out on a high. We have met some truly wonderful people through this pub, and those friendships and memories will stay on long after we’ve left.”

Pubs across the country are facing some of the harshest trading conditions in decades, with industry data showing more than 500 closures in the first half of this year alone, the highest rate since 2020.

Rising costs have hit the sector hard: energy bills for hospitality businesses have increased by an average of 80%, beer duty went up again in August, and more than a third of pubs report they are operating at a loss.

The British Beer and Pub Association says 22 pubs a week are shutting their doors, driven by soaring overheads, staffing shortages and the lingering impact of pandemic‑era debt.

Rural pubs, like those across the South Downs, are among the most vulnerable, with lower footfall and higher running costs making it increasingly difficult to stay afloat.

It is understood that the Elsted Inn will stay open after the Williamses have left, as a new tenant is considering taking the pub on temporarily.