The New Inn closed UFN

[matty40s]

Hi, we went for a well deserved beer yesterday after a long day driving round the Midlands and there were signs on the doors saying closed until further notice.It was open a week ago.

Stock has been cleared from behind the bar, however the beer font lights were on. There are still people living upstairs. strange time of year to close down?

[Athy]

This is sometimes, not necessarily in this case of course, because landlord pockets the takings and disappears hairy-arsed over the horizon. In such cases, the brewery will put someone in residence to deter intruders, hence the signs of occupancy which you noticed.

[scrumpylurcher]

I understand that it is the owner not the landlord who has financial problems and that all staff have been made redundant. Unfortunately that sounds like another pub on the waterways gone for the moment.

[Nightwatch]

Typical. We are off that way soon, I was going to spend loads of money in there as well.

 

If there's beer left in the pumps I am quite willing to buy as much as I can sup for a reduced price, to cover for loss of usual lighting, music and even food.

 

Martyn

[Arphamoe]

I understand that it is the owner not the landlord who has financial problems and that all staff have been made redundant. Unfortunately that sounds like another pub on the waterways gone for the moment.

Local information is that it is the result of a long-lasting issue with HMRC not getting their £100k!!! When it was not forthcoming after many delays, they took the business.

 

This is sometimes, not necessarily in this case of course, because landlord pockets the takings and disappears hairy-arsed over the horizon. In such cases, the brewery will put someone in residence to deter intruders, hence the signs of occupancy which you noticed.

Its not the case in this case!! George is as gutted as everyone.

[FidoDido]

shame for all concerned like that pub a lot. hopefully new owners will be found soon, and the landlord and staff will be reemployed.

[jelunga]

Which and where is this pub please?

[Magic Potion]

Top of the Buckby flight

[matty40s]

Which and where is this pub please?

 

I am sure I put it in the title.........

[jelunga]

I am sure I put it in the title.........

All I can see is "New Inn Closed" no location or canal, but I am looking on an ipod.

Thank you to another member for telling me top of Buckby flight. We have used this pub several times and it was a great family run place. Shame. Hope it reopens with the previous staff.

[Tuscan]

I've always stopped there on they through as I hate the Buckby flight , heavy gates and often shallow pounds. Stopped there about 3 weeks ago everything seemed OK. Carpets and seat covers pretty disgusting , could do with a few bob spending on it, but rather rough than another gastro canalside pub.

[Dominic M]

I believe this is a pub that has not been snaffled up by the dreaded greedy pubcos, and remains in private hands. It is very unlikely that it can be de-licensed because there is not another in the area. I would be very surprised if it did not re-open in the future. It was very popular, not least with Pete Hill, who built the Stowe Hill boats, as he lives nearby and it is his local. Lovely place to sit by the lock on a sunny afternoon (remember them?), but also popular in winter with a good local following from Long Buckby Wharf village and the many boaters that live near there.

[tillergirl]

Dominic - the licence remains in force until it is voluntarily surrendered..............which of course the ex landlord could have done before he left. Until such time as new owners are found he is responsible for all costs payable to the local authority. If hes had any sense he will have surrendered the licence before he left,

[johnthebridge]

Shame. Having said that, the last time I visited, I walked straight back out. It was incredibly filthy, dirty glasses everywhere, very loud crappy disco music and the handpumps covered over.

On the other hand, the first time I went, it was an icy Saturday evening in the Winter of '69. The door then was on the A5 side, and I opened it, stopped only to apologise to the "little old lady" sat inside by a roaring fire and, embarassed, closed the door again. I thought I'd walked straight in to her own front room! She opened the door again and told me in no uncertain manner to stop messing around, get inside out of the cold, shove the cat off the chair and sit down by the fire. She then brought me a pint of beer that was so good, I just had to go back for more.

The place was really just like a cottage inside, but it had a back room where several characters were playing Hood, very enthusiastically and noisily. The locks then had a 'keeper, Henry Grantham, an ex-boatman who lived in a small cottage further down the flight. He invited me to have a pint and join in the game, which I did. They were only "warming up", prior to the Big Match later that evening against another pub team, but I felt honoured to have been included so quickly in their company. Henry, a lugubrious character with a heavily-lined weather-beaten face, told me the first of the many boating tales I was to hear from him on subsequent visits. I'm sure most of them were true....

The place then was wonderful and I've many memories of happy times there. Shame "they" improved it later on.

[Boat&Bikes]

Fingers crossed that it will reopen.Hopefully with better food and clean glasses.We moored by the pub last month, not suprised to hear it has closed.

 

Ian.

[alan_fincher]

I'm a bit surprised that Matty reports it still operating a week ago, as I thought I had seen news of it shutting rather longer ago than that.

 

I have to say I had heard enough mixed reports of it that had never felt very drawn to making a stop there to try it.

 

A shame to see any canal side pub closed though, particularly if it has managed to avoid going "Bistro" or "Gourmet Burger", and pricing itself out of the market, (or our market, at least....). Far too many of the Southern GU pubs have "re-imaged" themselves in a way I'd rather avoid.

[Timleech]

Shame. Having said that, the last time I visited, I walked straight back out. It was incredibly filthy, dirty glasses everywhere, very loud crappy disco music and the handpumps covered over.

On the other hand, the first time I went, it was an icy Saturday evening in the Winter of '69. The door then was on the A5 side, and I opened it, stopped only to apologise to the "little old lady" sat inside by a roaring fire and, embarassed, closed the door again. I thought I'd walked straight in to her own front room! She opened the door again and told me in no uncertain manner to stop messing around, get inside out of the cold, shove the cat off the chair and sit down by the fire. She then brought me a pint of beer that was so good, I just had to go back for more.

The place was really just like a cottage inside, but it had a back room where several characters were playing Hood, very enthusiastically and noisily. The locks then had a 'keeper, Henry Grantham, an ex-boatman who lived in a small cottage further down the flight. He invited me to have a pint and join in the game, which I did. They were only "warming up", prior to the Big Match later that evening against another pub team, but I felt honoured to have been included so quickly in their company. Henry, a lugubrious character with a heavily-lined weather-beaten face, told me the first of the many boating tales I was to hear from him on subsequent visits. I'm sure most of them were true....

The place then was wonderful and I've many memories of happy times there. Shame "they" improved it later on.

 

I seem to remember it was closed for a while in the late '60s or early '70s?

 

Tim

[Morat]

That's a blow. I dived in there for quick pint a few weeks back, it was a lovely sunny day and the place was jam packed with men dressed as pirates. There were at least 3 hire boats full of them and more had arrived by car. There was no shortage of trade that day!

[Arphamoe]

I'm a bit surprised that Matty reports it still operating a week ago, as I thought I had seen news of it shutting rather longer ago than that.

 

I have to say I had heard enough mixed reports of it that had never felt very drawn to making a stop there to try it.

 

A shame to see any canal side pub closed though, particularly if it has managed to avoid going "Bistro" or "Gourmet Burger", and pricing itself out of the market, (or our market, at least....). Far too many of the Southern GU pubs have "re-imaged" themselves in a way I'd rather avoid.

I am aware of 'interest' locally in acquiring it and returning it to its proper status as a hostelry. Depends on the current owner being realistic about pricing!!

[Morat]

It sounds to me that the owner is likely to be a bank (if not now then soon enough) and they're happy to play a long game in the property market if my defunct local is anything to go by.

[johnthebridge]

I seem to remember it was closed for a while in the late '60s or early '70s?

 

Tim

Was it? Any idea why?

Living in London at that time, I could never call it my local. My first visit, described above, was, I think, when bringing one of Derek Hucker's hire boats back to North Kilworth after it had been iced in below Buckby. Did you visit the pub at that time? I'm trying to remember what brewery did their beer. I think it was either M&B or Davenports.

[Arphamoe]

I believe this is a pub that has not been snaffled up by the dreaded greedy pubcos, and remains in private hands. It is very unlikely that it can be de-licensed because there is not another in the area. I would be very surprised if it did not re-open in the future. It was very popular, not least with Pete Hill, who built the Stowe Hill boats, as he lives nearby and it is his local. Lovely place to sit by the lock on a sunny afternoon (remember them?), but also popular in winter with a good local following from Long Buckby Wharf village and the many boaters that live near there.

Dominic, it is owned privately. Spoke to George (manager at the closure) yesterday - there has been a visit by valuers but nothing else since the closure. He expects to stay living there until something is sorted but he is not holding his breath!!

[twbm]

Bottom line pubs are not a social service and will close if there isn't enough trade: a few boaters spending £50 in a night doesn't add up to much against running costs of around £120,000 a year.

[RLWP]

Bottom line pubs are not a social service and will close if there isn't enough trade: a few boaters spending £50 in a night doesn't add up to much against running costs of around £120,000 a year.

 

A few boaters spending £50 a night is surely exactly what that kind of business is about

 

What are you expecting, debutant's balls and champagne?

 

Richard

[Tuscan]

A few boaters spending £50 a night is surely exactly what that kind of business is about

 

What are you expecting, debutant's balls and champagne?

 

Richard

 

 

 

 

Totally agree this is exactly what is needed here, it was a drinking pub that did food. Not gastro. It was getting tatty the constant rain over the last couple of months would have hurt as on a sunny weekend it was always busy outside.

 

The Admiral Nelson at Braunston is trying to be both a pub and gastro , I hope it can survive but I fear it may not until it works out what it wants to be.