Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St Albans has survived wars, plagues and financial crisis after being established in 793AD... but it was left devastated by Covid, and now it's gone into administration after 13 centuries.
@emma_brazell reports ✍️
trib.al/oWYoTPw
🧵👇
@emma_brazell reports ✍️
trib.al/oWYoTPw
🧵👇
Announcing the sad news, landlord @ChristoTofalli said he had been left ‘heartbroken’ 💔
'It is with great sadness that I have to announce that today, after a sustained period of extremely challenging trading conditions, YOFC Ltd has gone into administration.'
'It is with great sadness that I have to announce that today, after a sustained period of extremely challenging trading conditions, YOFC Ltd has gone into administration.'
‘Along with my team, I have tried everything to keep the pub going.'
However, the past two years have been unprecedented for the hospitality industry, and have defeated all of us who have been trying our hardest to ensure this multi-award-winning pub could continue trading.'
However, the past two years have been unprecedented for the hospitality industry, and have defeated all of us who have been trying our hardest to ensure this multi-award-winning pub could continue trading.'
Christo revealed that ‘things were already extremely tough’ before the pandemic due to escalating business rates and taxations.
‘But we were able to survive and were following an exciting five-year plan and were hopeful for the future’, he continued.
‘But we were able to survive and were following an exciting five-year plan and were hopeful for the future’, he continued.
‘However, the Covid-19 pandemic was devastating and our already tight profit margins gave us no safety net.'
@FightingCocksSA certainly isn’t the only place to shut down due to coronavirus, with more than 10,000 licensed premises – including pubs, clubs and restaurants – closing permanently in 2020 alone.
The Government has been criticised for not offering more support to the hospitality industry during the pandemic.
The pub is expected to eventually reopen under new management, with owners Mitchells and Butlers currently talking to interested parties.
The pub is expected to eventually reopen under new management, with owners Mitchells and Butlers currently talking to interested parties.
@ChristoTofalli, who has run Ye Olde Fighting Cocks for a decade, said he hopes whoever takes the mantle ‘will keep a bit of the soul and spirit going’.
Guinness World Records (@GWR) names Ye Olde Fighting Cocks as the oldest pub in England (although this is disputed by others).
Guinness World Records (@GWR) names Ye Olde Fighting Cocks as the oldest pub in England (although this is disputed by others).
It is reputed that Oliver Cromwell, who was Lord Protector, slept at the inn for one night during the Civil War of 1642-1651 🤯
For the full story 👇
trib.al/oWYoTPw
For the full story 👇
trib.al/oWYoTPw
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