A 400-YEAR-OLD pub has closed permanently after struggling to survive the Covid pandemic.
Set in a picturesque setting close to Ilkley Moor and the Cow and Calf rocks, the Hermit Inn at Burley Woodhead took part in the Eat Out to Help Out scheme in August, and ran a takeaway food service in lockdown.
But the pub, which has changed the name of its Twitter page to The Hermit is not Inn anymore, tweeted: "Sadly we are now closed permanently but we would like to thank all of our customers for their patronage," and "Cheers to our MPs killed a 400 year old pub thanks for fighting our corner."
The historic inn, which used to be called the Woolpack, looks out over spectacular views and was particularly popular with walkers and cyclists. Regulars have included TV presenter Richard Whiteley and Alfred Brown, one of the most widely reader writers of books about walking in Yorkshire.
The Hermit's name derives from an 18th century man who lived in a hut on the moor, from where he serenaded locals.
Peter Down, Acting Chairman of consumer organisation the Campaign for Real Ale, said: “It is sad to hear the news of the closure of The Hermit. This was the only pub in the village and has been reported to have been trading for around 400 years.
"Undoubtedly, its closure will be a blow to the local community it served. It is also another loss to the pub scene in the wider Bradford area. The impact of the Covid-19 precautions over the last year has had a huge impact on the hospitality sector in addition to commercial pressures that were already being placed on pubs and other similar businesses. Sadly, it appears the Hermit may have succumbed to these. Its future remains uncertain and it would be fantastic to see it re-open as a pub again. We hope that the local community can pull together to do what it can to save the pub. The CAMRA – Bradford Branch is willing to offer its support to help with this”.
“The situation with The Hermit at Burley Woodhead appears to have parallels with the Sun Inn at Cottingley and the Kings Arms at Heaton. The latter two pubs were both designated as Assets of Community Value and were important, unique establishments within the communities they were located. However, in both cases, City of Bradford MDC has allowed them to be converted into other uses. Following the failure to save these assets, we trust that lessons have been learnt and the Council can provide support this time to an important community asset within Burley Woodhead”.
CAMRA Chief Executive Tom Stainer said pubs "feel they have become the scapegoat for the pandemic."
He added: "We face the permanent closure of pubs and brewers at the hands of restrictions on trade imposed by governments which are damaging consumer confidence in pubs who have already invested their dwindling reserves to make their premises Covid-secure.
“That’s why we desperately need a proper sector support package that also provides support for brewers, extends the business rates holiday for another year, and takes action to address the rent crisis that will be exacerbated by further closure periods.
“This is a make or break moment for British beer and pubs as we know them. Without swift financial support to help them mitigate the impact of the reduced trade, we risk seeing thousands of pubs, clubs and breweries closing for good by Christmas.”
The T&A recently reported that pub licensee Gavin Patterson believes 40per cent of pubs could be in danger of closure if they can't sell takeaway alcohol. Fearing he would lose £6,500 if he was unable to sell his beer before lockdown, he launched a petition to overturn the Government ruling on takeaway alcohol.
Mr Patterson, who runs the Craven Heifer in Addingham and has recently taken over the famous Woolpack in Esholt, said the rules announced under current lockdown restrictions will leave publicans greatly out of pocket.
“In March the Government offered to refund all the money from beers pubs had stored in their cellars," said Mr Patterson. “Pubs were also allowed to sell takeaway beer. Now the Government have knocked off the compensation for beer in the cellar and made it illegal for takeaways.”
Angry that supermarkets and off-licences can sell alcohol, while publicans can't, he said: “It's not a level playing field."
CAMRA says pubs need greater support to avoid more closures. National chairman Nik Antona said: “As well as furlough support, we call on the Chancellor to commit to a long-term, sector-specific financial support package to see pubs and the breweries that serve them through the tough winter months. Otherwise, we risk seeing thousands of pubs forced to close for good.”
