Shropshire pub forced to take 'extra security measures' after theft

The Pheasant at Neenton, Bridgnorth, head chef and co-director Mark Harris explained the issue was part of an “ongoing problem”.

He said: “The industry is facing enough tough times at the moment and we don't need people stealing from us.

“We should be able to close our pub down at night and know we are going to come back to a full set of products.

Massive inconvenience 

“We had to repurchase the oil, that will affect the food margin for the month, which is never ideal.”

Harris added the pub did not leave anything of great “value” in the backyard area, making the theft “fairly nominal”, amounting to around £80, but that the “inconvenience” had been substantial.

“We've got an enclosed backyard, but because we have deliveries from early in the morning, we've always left it unlocked.

“[But] we've had to resort to some extra security measures like coded padlocks. It's just a massive inconvenience.

“The waste oil was getting stolen, then the waste oil barrels were empty, so they decided to take three drums of fresh oil.

Raise awareness 

“Obviously, oil prices went through the roof a while ago but they seem to have started come back down again, so I didn't realise there was such a market for dodgy oil”, he continued.

The pub has not contacted the police over the matter but did take to social media to raise awareness in the local area, sharing a description of the vehicle involved, which was seen by a neighbour.

“We're not the only site in the local area that’s had it done, there's other sites as well, it's just a bit of a pain”, the chef said.

Additionally, the burglary, which happened earlier this month, came just as the pub won an award for being the “best pub in Shropshire”.

Harris added: “It's just such a petty thing to happen. We just won the award and we're flying high, then literally the next day this happened, it brings you back down to earth with a bump.”