The licensee of a village pub with no customers says she is facing financial ruin – just a year after taking over the premises.
Teresa Cox has lost her £85,000 life savings on the Cock Inn at Hanwood and fears she will have to go bankrupt. Now owner and national pub giant Punch Taverns is taking steps to provide a support package for the venue.
Mrs Cox, 59, said: “It was my dream to run a country pub. But it’s turned into a nightmare.
“I’m losing £1,800 a week. I’m penniless, with nowhere to go and no chance of finding another job at my age.
“I think I’ll just have to walk away from the pub or else squat here in the hope that the council might find me a home.”
Grandmother Mrs Cox, who has years of experience in the licensing trade, moved from London last August to take over the lease of the Cock Inn.
The pub had been closed for two weeks after the previous licensee quit amid bad feeling in the local community.
Its customer base had dwindled away, partly due to a disagreement with the bowling club attached to the pub.
Residents expressed delight when Mrs Cox took over and she had high hopes of building up trade again.
But the Cock’s customers never came back and she has struggled to meet her lease, electricity bills, rates and the cost of refurbishment.
“I had always wanted a village pub – and I came to Shropshire to get away from the murders and muggings and to be close to my son and his family,” said Mrs Cox, who is separated from her husband.
“The past year has been horrendous. My function room is bigger than the village hall and I’ve organised race nights and charity events, but no-one comes here.
“I get perhaps four people in the week and 10 or 12 at weekends and have given up opening on Monday in the daytime or serving food because it’s not worth it.”
Mrs Cox said she did get some custom from Hanwood Bowling Club, Hanwood Football Club and pool and poker leagues, but ordinary villagers just stayed away. I think they got used to not coming here and prefer to drink at home.”
A Punch Taverns spokesman said: “It is always our priority to build strong relationships with our licensees and work closely with them to help them build successful, sustainable businesses.
“We have already taken steps to put a support package in place for the pub following a conversation with the licensee. Proposals are with the regional director for approval and we are planning a meeting at the pub to discuss the detail of our package.”
by Peter Johnson
