Pub goes on strike after beer prices rise

A licensee has closed the doors of his century-old pub in protest at rising beer prices from Marston's.

Carl Sherratt of The Poacher, in Bolton, stopped trading after staging a demonstration outside the pub with a crowd of supporters, including publicans from two other Marston's pubs in the area.

He has hung a 30-foot wide banner across the front of the pub, which states: "We regret that due to the trading policies of our pub company we have ceased trading."

Sherratt, who is tied-in to buy beer from Marston's, said the brewery had raised the price of a beer barrel three times since he took on the tenancy 18 months ago.

He said: "The margins are just too small. They hit you with rent on one side and over-priced beer on the other and there's nothing left in the middle.

"You've got people who are taking money out of their pockets and putting it into a business that's destined to fail.

"For me it's not a life threatening situation but I look at my friends round here and I see them struggle and I see their pain. I am in the fortunate position of being able to make a stand."

Marston's operations director Andrew Andrea said the group had scheduled a meeting with Sherratt and his partner Linda Featherstone.

He said: "At no point since the licensees became Marston's Pub Company retailers have we received an intimation either verbally or in writing that they were unhappy with their lease agreement.

"We hope this meeting will give the retailer the opportunity they need to talk about any issues that they may be facing with a view to finding a solution which suits both parties needs.

"Marston's Pub Company is committed to ensuring that all of our retailers have the help and support they need to run their business successfully."