The Crown Inn boss being squeezed by rent and duty rates

Alan Walters, who has held the lease at The Crown Inn in Aldbourne for 12 years, was left reeling by a demand to pay £54,000 worth of disputed rent arrears in April.

The ruling was made during an independent arbitration process after Mr Walters applied for relief from £62,876.62 of rent racked up during the Covid-19 lockdown, when the pub was closed.

Over four months on from the ruling Mr Walters told this paper that, while the business remains afloat, the pressure of monthly repayments of £1,500 is taking a toll.

He said: “I’m paying it back and we’re managing fortunately by keeping turnover up, but it feels like you’re on a treadmill going round and round.

Mr Walters holding his arbitration ruling (Image: Newsquest)

“I work for them and not for me, you just aren’t making any money, but I have to keep working.

“It adds that extra layer of pressure so it’s not always easy and I shouldn’t be under this sort of pressure at this time of life.”

In April, the 75-year-old spoke of his fear of losing the business he has put over a decade of his life into, claiming he would be left “out on the street.”

In addition to the rent arrears, an increase in duty rates for all non-draught alcohol products has added further difficulties for The Crown and the industry as a whole.

“It hasn’t been a good month”, Mr Walters added.

“Spirits, wines, cans and bottled beers have gone up in price and that’s a big part of our business so regular customers will come in less or spend less, so there’s another strain.”

Despite this, The Crown has been kept afloat by its “fantastic, hardworking staff”, who Mr Walters labelled the “backbone of the business.”

The Crown Inn (Image: Newsquest)

But he fears that the pub industry is set for huge changes moving forward.

He said: “It’s going to be a shame but in as little as ten years I think big breweries will own all the pubs and everything will be the same.

“It won’t have the heart and character of independent pubs.”

At the time of the rent ruling a spokesperson for Stonegate Group said: “An independent ruling was made through the Commercial Rent Arbitration Scheme following unsuccessful negotiations with Mr Walters regarding outstanding debt.

"The ruling has allowed for payments to be made over time.”

This structure included an initial £20,000 sum followed by monthly instalments of £1,500.