Rates campaigner Jim Sharp, who has fought for years for the survival of rural pubs, has thrown in the towel and closed his own pub.
Sharp, who twice won lengthy ground-breaking battles to get his rates reduced, said the doors of the Red Hart at Llanvapley, Monmouthshire, will stay closed until conditions improved.
He said "insidious taxes" and increases in insurance premiums have contributed to his decision.
And he has attacked the Campaign for Real Ale for getting involved in fighting to keep pubs in his locality open which had led to friction between licensees and customers.
He said Camra should "stick to promoting real ale and keep its nose out of pub closures".
Twice Sharp had his rates slashed to £500 after successfully arguing that his pub made little or no profit.
He urged rural licensees suffering a similar plight to lodge appeals against their rates and his example served as a blueprint for other struggling businesses.
Sharp, who took on the pub, which had endured a history of bankruptcies and changes of ownership, nine years ago, said recent Government "stealth" taxes had contributed to his downfall.
He highlighted his electricity bill, 33% of which comprised VAT, a Climate Change levy and now a "Renewable Fuel Obligation" charge, and a 275 % insurance premium hike over two years.
"Increased costs coupled with the bad state of the rural pub industry have accelerated my decision, along with the Government's proposals for changing the licensing law.
"I can't exist on takings of £400 a week."
Gwent Camra chairman Chris Gillette said: "Our policy is to fight to keep pubs open if there is a glimmer of hope and we judge each case on its merits.
"We feel keeping pubs open is just as important as promoting real ale but sadly there will always be casualties," he added.