Licensee to quit pub after 33 years over lack of trade

Pete Jones from the Queens Head, Eynsham, Witney, is walking away from more than 30 years at the same pub and thousands of pounds' worth of investment.

Jones said: “Trade is falling through the floor for me. We have got a population in the village of around 5,500 people are there are still six pubs.

“In the 33 years I have been here, one pub has closed and I think we are suffering for that now. Just one out of the six pubs are doing well.

“I do food every dinner time and every evening but the evening trade is non-existent.”

Investment

After investing money into the Queens Head, Jones explained why he feels that his time at the only pub he has run is up: “I have had enough of the 85-hour weeks and having nothing left at the end of it.”

Over the three decades Jones has been at the pub, he has tried various tactics to reinvent it including building inside toilets, a trade kitchen, additional accommodation above the pub and an area for playing pool in a bid to attract the younger generation.

“I have put about £70,000 into the pub over the years but it needs more investment, it is looking tired. I have been putting in about £1,000 a month for the past 18 months. It got to April and I thought, I can’t do this any more.”

Admiral Taverns

Though he is only two and a half years into his 10-year lease, Jones explained he will be leaving the pub before the end of October because that is how long he can afford to bank roll it and has explained this to Admiral Taverns, which owns the site.

He added that within his lease there is no provision for his early exit: "I think I have been quite fair by giving them until the end of October as I will be bankrupt by then!"

A spokesperson for Admiral Taverns said: "We can confirm that Pete Jones will be leaving the Queen's Head after 33 years. We would like to thank him for his dedication over this considerable time and we wish him all the best for the future."

"As champions of community pubs we continue to believe the Queen's Head has a viable future and as such are actively looking to recruit a great licensee. Anyone who is interested should get in touch with us directly."