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Mystery of pub closure
LICENSEES Elliot Jeffries and his son Josh have quit the Rose and Crown pub just three months after moving in.
Regulars at the Rose and Crown in Market Place, Chippenham, were surprised to find it closed early this month and a metal sheet sealing off the door.
The father and son duo refused to comment on the reason for the closure.
A spokesman for Enterprise Inns, which owns the pub, would not comment on rumours that the pub had closed after running into financial difficulties.
He said: "The pub is temporarily closed while we search for a quality operator to run it. We cannot comment on the financial aspect of any of our pubs."
The closure comes just months after Josh Jeffries, 24, spoke of his plans to transform the failing pub.
He said at the time: "I want to see the pub return to its glory days when it was the busiest pub in the town."
He also planned to bring in DJs at the weekends to attract a younger crowd, something he had succeeding in doing with the Little George pub in New Road, which they took over shortly before the Rose and Crown. They also run the Old Road Tavern.
The pub achieved online fame in a recent Internet poll on the social networking site FaceBook, where it was named as Chippenham's top venue.
Regular Richard Armand, 44, said: "It had lost its edge and got a reputation as a bit of a trouble spot, although I always enjoyed the atmosphere in there."
The pub is used as one of the venues for the Chippenham Folk Festival.
Festival organiser Bob Berry said: "I am praying someone will take it over before the festival. Otherwise we would have to re-jig festivities on that side of the town."
3:21pm Thursday 24th January 2008
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CommentPosted by: Chipsticks, Chippenham on 4:12pm Thu 24 Jan 08
I dont think its a bad thing. Place was a dump and the 'door staff' were nothing but thugs
I dont think its a bad thing. Place was a dump and the 'door staff' were nothing but thugs
Posted by: Tax Payer, Chippenham on 6:56pm Thu 24 Jan 08
Bring in a younger crowd!! so that would make the average age about 12 then lol, Brunel is the best pub in town and its a long walk to the Rosey
Bring in a younger crowd!! so that would make the average age about 12 then lol, Brunel is the best pub in town and its a long walk to the Rosey
Posted by: mc, Bath on 9:34am Fri 25 Jan 08
Bulldoze the place down and start again i reckon.
Bulldoze the place down and start again i reckon.
Posted by: Jesse Lake, Chippenham on 10:19am Fri 25 Jan 08
That place is a dump, it attracts under age drinkers as the bouncers were crap, its located in a bad part of town where there isn't a massive amount of trade, and it's just not an amazing pub. Every goes down to 4 seasons, or black horse or brunel these days. Put something more useful there if no one can b bothered to run it and keep it open.
That place is a dump, it attracts under age drinkers as the bouncers were crap, its located in a bad part of town where there isn't a massive amount of trade, and it's just not an amazing pub. Every goes down to 4 seasons, or black horse or brunel these days. Put something more useful there if no one can b bothered to run it and keep it open.
Posted by: donteventhinkit, Corsham on 11:21am Fri 25 Jan 08
This place has closed after 3 months which if your in the trade only tells you one thing the pub is not covering its costs and there is trouble they couldnt handle.Enterprise will now try and work out a deal for next to nothing in rent and a barrelage tie thats extra extra cheap in the hope of tempting someone to go in as TAW(tenant at will) for a year or so make the changes then the rent goes up and they flog the lease to some idiot with more money than sense. Even the worst areas can support a pub but the community has to support the tenant in making the changes
This place has closed after 3 months which if your in the trade only tells you one thing the pub is not covering its costs and there is trouble they couldnt handle.Enterprise will now try and work out a deal for next to nothing in rent and a barrelage tie thats extra extra cheap in the hope of tempting someone to go in as TAW(tenant at will) for a year or so make the changes then the rent goes up and they flog the lease to some idiot with more money than sense. Even the worst areas can support a pub but the community has to support the tenant in making the changes
Posted by: Chris, Chippenham on 1:17pm Fri 25 Jan 08
I quite agree about the comments regarding the bouncers. As far as I am concerned they WERE the trouble makers and nothing but thugs. Maybe that is the reason why nobody wants to go in there?
I quite agree about the comments regarding the bouncers. As far as I am concerned they WERE the trouble makers and nothing but thugs. Maybe that is the reason why nobody wants to go in there?
Posted by: Bonnie, Chippenham on 2:49pm Fri 25 Jan 08
This time last year the place was buzzing - Voted the Town's top venue.
He said "I want to see the pub return to its glory days when it was the busiest pub in the town." (last year then) Unfortunately that was never going to happen. Hopefully the Rosie will open it's doors again, not as a night spot, just a nice family run pub, that gets it's regulars in every day.
RIP the Rosie - Chippenham's Top Venue.
This time last year the place was buzzing - Voted the Town's top venue.
He said "I want to see the pub return to its glory days when it was the busiest pub in the town." (last year then) Unfortunately that was never going to happen. Hopefully the Rosie will open it's doors again, not as a night spot, just a nice family run pub, that gets it's regulars in every day.
RIP the Rosie - Chippenham's Top Venue.
Posted by: moonraker1, chippenham on 4:38pm Fri 25 Jan 08
KNOCK THE DUMP DOWN
We despertately need more shoe shops and charity shops in the town.
KNOCK THE DUMP DOWN
We despertately need more shoe shops and charity shops in the town.
Posted by: mjhudston, Chippenham, Wiltshire on 9:26pm Fri 25 Jan 08
[quote][bold]moonraker1[/bold] wrote:
KNOCK THE DUMP DOWN We despertately need more shoe shops and charity shops in the town.[/quote] Dont lie moonraker, its mobile phone shops we are short of in chippenham, everyone knows that.
moonraker1 wrote:
KNOCK THE DUMP DOWN We despertately need more shoe shops and charity shops in the town.
Dont lie moonraker, its mobile phone shops we are short of in chippenham, everyone knows that.
Posted by: sara77, chippenham on 12:10am Sat 26 Jan 08
how it used to be ?are we goin back 10 yrs im only 30 but felt 60 in there as the average age was 13 as for the door staff they created the violence wot went wrong !!!takin kidz pocket money lol greed and bad management !!!!![bold]bold[/bold]
how it used to be ?are we goin back 10 yrs im only 30 but felt 60 in there as the average age was 13 as for the door staff they created the violence wot went wrong !!!takin kidz pocket money lol greed and bad management !!!!!
Posted by: Joe, Calne on 10:48pm Sat 26 Jan 08
I know quite a few underagers who used to go in there the things is they dont always have the money to spend and it puts off other customers who do.
Pubs that let to many underage drinkers in will always struggle
I know quite a few underagers who used to go in there the things is they dont always have the money to spend and it puts off other customers who do.
Pubs that let to many underage drinkers in will always struggle
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