Pub's mystery closure

3:30pm Friday 17th October 2008

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A PUB in Melksham has closed under mysterious circumstances just a month after the demise of a second in a neighbouring town.

Landlords and bar staff in the town are shocked at the sudden closure of The Foresters Arms in Sandridge Road this week, after landlord Richard Grieshaber shut the doors on Sunday and didn’t open them again the following day.

Mr Grieshaber took over the pub in August 2006 on a 25-year lease after leaving the Parson’s Nose in High Street following a four-and-a-half year stint.

Rumours of the pub’s impending closure had been circulating.

Rachel Spy, who works at The Unicorn in Bath Road said: “We had heard rumours, as you do hear about these things in the industry.

“We had noticed that he didn’t have an order delivered this week or last week.

“I think everyone was expecting it to close, but we are not sure why or what is going to happen now.”

Other landlords said they thought the pub would reopen under new management.

There were no signs on the pub’s doors earlier this week and the building was empty. The Wiltshire Times has been unable to contact Mr Grieshaber.

Meanwhile a pub in Bradford on Avon, which featured in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, has closed its doors blaming the smoking ban, the downturn in the economy and a lack of help from their brewery.

Mark House, 40, and his wife Belinda, took over the Beehive Pub in Trowbridge Road, in December 2005 but closed down after discussions with owners Punch Taverns, on September 14.

Mr House’s father, Simon, 58, a corporate accountant, said they had tried to arrange a rescue package with Punch Taverns, but received little help from the brewery, a claim Punch Taverns vehemently denies.

Simon, from Southampton, said: “I feel very bitter and twisted and I try not to be.

“Mark had a good first year and then it started to get difficult and after Christmas ended it started to get very difficult.

“We were doing everything that we possibly could. In the end I put together a proposal for a rescue plan and I told the executives at the brewery quite plainly that if they couldn’t help us we would go out of business.”

The pub was offered marketing help and assistance with paying the rent, but continued to struggle.

M A House Ltd, Mark’s company which bought the licence off the previous tenants, went into administration this week.

Simon said: “Mark doesn’t have a livelihood. He’s got to pick up the pieces of his life somehow. He and Belinda did want to say a big thank you to all of their customers who have been so supportive over the years.”

Joanna Lumani, a spokesman for Punch Taverns, said: “The licensee was given the opportunity to restructure his debt and was also given preferable credit terms and additional discounts with the company, which he was happy to receive.

“In addition to this, the licensee was offered a vast amount of marketing and promotional support, which he decided not to take up against our advice.

“We support all of our licensees as much as we possibly can, which includes the Beehive.”