The landlord of a Devon pub is forced to consider turning it into housing due to financial struggles and lack of buyers
Sandford: It’s a tough time for the landlord of The Lamb Inn. Nick Silk, who has run the pub for seven years, is facing the heartbreaking decision to turn it into housing. The pub has been struggling financially, and despite being on the market for three years, no serious buyers have come forward.
Nick has had to lower the asking price by £125,000, but that hasn’t helped either. To keep the pub afloat, he’s making some big changes. Starting next week, the Chargrill Restaurant will close, and the pub will focus on being a wet-led venue with a simple menu and traditional Sunday roasts.
Sadly, this means cutting down his staff from ten to just two, including himself. The economic climate and rising costs have hit hard, and even though locals want to support their pub, they’re just not visiting as often or spending as much.
As Nick approaches his 70th birthday, he knows he can’t keep the pub going much longer. He had a dream of running it for five years, but Covid and other challenges have made that impossible. He’s even submitted plans to the council to change the pub’s use to housing, hoping to find a way to make it work.
Nick is still holding out hope that the community might come together to buy the pub. He’s willing to stick around for a few months to see if they can raise the funds. But with his pension tied up in the pub, he needs to find a solution soon.
Despite the challenges, Nick has put his heart into The Lamb Inn. He’s hosted all sorts of events, from quiz nights to live music, trying to attract a younger crowd. But with rising costs and changing spending habits, it’s been tough to keep the doors open.
He’s even thought about investing in Sky TV to draw in more customers, but the numbers just don’t add up. The restaurant’s small size has also been a problem, as it needs more seats to be financially viable.
Nick worries about the future of pubs in general. He believes many will struggle to survive in the coming years. He loves running The Lamb Inn, but the physical demands are becoming harder to manage. He and his team have done everything they can to keep the pub alive, but the situation is looking grim.
