VOTE: Credit crunch to blame for Worthing pub closure
THE credit crunch is blamed for the closure of the Montague pub, in Montague Street.
Last orders were served under then owner Lee Mills on December 19.
Mr Mills told the Herald the pub was going "extremely well" early last year, about six months after he bought the lease.
He said he had plans for an ambitious refurbishment last summer.
Mid-week hit
"But then the credit crunch started to hit, particularly in mid-week, and in the run-up to Christmas we hit a point when it was costing us money just to keep the pub open," he continued.
"I really regretted having to do this.
"We had just pulled the pub around from what it was before, and there were a lot of nice people coming in.
"We also had a good working relationship with other businesses in Montague Street. Now, I'm having to move back to Manchester."
Reopening
Town centre manager Sharon Clark said: "I am hearing that the Montague will be reopening in 2009, because it is a brewery-owned pub.
"I think the smoking ban has badly affected many pubs, with smokers not wanting to stand outside to smoke in the bitter cold at this time of the year."
The Egremont in Brighton Road became yet another Worthing pub to call time when it closed its doors for the last time on December 23.
The closure disappointed locals and sparked inaccurate rumours that Beechwood Hall in Wykeham Road, which is owned by the same group as the Egremont, would also close.
Beechwood open
A staff member at Beechwood Hall, which remains very much open, said: "A lot of people have heard the rumour and are not coming in.
"It is affecting our trade."
Mrs Clarke said she had no news on the future of the Egremont.
But she thought it was one of those pubs with a mainly older clientele who, apart from smokers not wanting to stand outside, were being hit by the credit crunch and were deciding to stay at home and enjoy cheaper drink from the supermarkets.
Have your say
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Weather for Worthing
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
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