A COUPLE who won the title of Village Pub of the Year for the Rose & Crown in Worton, near Devizes, have closed the pub and left, claiming they were driven out by overpricing by their landlords.

Ellie Preston-Gill and John Leiper won the accolade in the Morning Advertiser national awards in 2004 and were shortlisted for the same award this year.

But the couple say they have reached the end of the road and financially they felt they could not go on.

Ms Preston-Gill said: "The owners were just taking too much out of the business. The rent came to 26 per cent of our total turnover. Also they insisted that we buy their drink, which is considerably more expensive than if we bought from an independent supplier."

She added: "Leaving the pub felt like a blessed release. There is no doubt we would have gone bankrupt.

"I am so sorry we have had to do this. We threw a party for our regulars to say goodbye the Sunday before last. We have not just walked out. This was a very difficult decision for us but we feel we have nothing to be ashamed of."

Owners Enterprise Inns would not comment on pricing or how long it would take to re-open the pub.

The couple won the title of Village Pub of the Year after the judges were impressed by the community spirit evident at the pub as well as the home cooking provided by Mr Leiper.

They received the award at a gala presentation evening at the Park Lane Hilton in London in February last year and returned again at the beginning of this year, but only received the regional title.

They organised a May Day bank holiday fair which raised hundreds of pounds for local charities and interceded with Enterprise Inns to arrange a lease on one of the barns behind the pub for a community shop.

The couple moved into a home of their own in the area in February and arranged for a new chef, New Zealander Kim Stevens, to take over kitchen duties from Mr Leiper.

They have two children, Joss, four, and Rubin, three. They felt that a pub was not the ideal location in which to bring up children.

Mr Leiper now has a job as a part-time handyman and Ms Preston-Gill is considering going back to her former career as an interior designer.

Jason Avgherinos, acting chairman of the Worton and Marston Village Shop Association, said that the couple would be greatly missed.

He said: "Ellie was very much the driving force behind the community shop idea. It is a great shame that it hasn't worked out for them. It is not from a lack of enthusiasm or competence. I hope we will see new licensees in there before long."