By Emma Kasprzak
Elaine Ball and Lorraine Radcliffe
The only pub to serve food in Wem has closed suddenly, leaving residents fearing more may be set to shut in the town.
The Albion, which is on Aston Street, shut without warning on Friday leaving people without their local, which was a popular meeting point well-known for its Sunday carvery.
It is believed an increase in rates enforced by brewery Punch Taverns could be behind the closure, while the smoking ban is also thought to have had an impact.
But Punch Taverns representatives have insisted rates have not risen and have pledged to reopen the pub as soon as possible.
At the end of last year the White Horse pub near High Street, which was also run by Punch Taverns, closed down leaving six pubs remaining in the town.
Peggy Carson, Wem town councillor, said: “The Albion public house was the pub in Wem for food. It was open one day and shut the next.
“It’s a big loss to the town. It’s the first public house you think about in Wem. A lot of people are really upset. People who live on their own go there on a Sunday.”
Helen Spencer has been the landlady of the Hawkstone Arms Pub, which is also owned by Punch Taverns, for four years.
She said: “It’s not just the rates. It’s everything, we’re tied for all our beers, our rent is going up. We’re not getting any help off Punch Taverns.
“The Albion was the last place we ever thought would close. ”
She assured regulars that the Hawkstone Arms was not facing closure.
Dave Granger, chairman of Wem Chamber of Commerce, said: “Losing any business in Wem is a blow as any loss to the town affects everyone. He said he did not think the smoking ban had helped in this economic situation.”
A spokesperson from Punch Taverns said: “Our priority is to get the Albion open for trade and serving the local community as soon as possible. We are trying to resolve a number of issues with the current licensees who took the decision to close the pub last Friday.
“We always endeavour to support our licensees and help them build successful, sustainable businesses. There have been no increases to the rent at the Albion and a rent concession has been offered.”
Joint licensees Elaine Ball and Lorraine Radcliffe at the Albion were not available to comment at the time the Chronicle went to press.
