Lewes Arms forces out folk band

A Sussex folk band, which has played at local pub the Lewes Arms for 20 years, is being forced out as the new owners tried to charge a hefty fee.

The Lewes Arms first hit the headlines in 2007 Greene King decided to ditch Lewes favourite brew Harveys Best, prompting a five month local boycott of the pub.

Valmai Goodyear, a Lewes Arms Folk Club committee member, told the Sussex Express that her fellow members are "heartbroken and angry" at the way they have been treated since Fullers took over in August.

She said: "After 21 years in its beloved Lewes Arms, the folk club which meets there every Saturday night is being forced to leave.

"This is a very special club. It runs 15 or more all-day music workshops every year, with the tutor performing in the evening.

"The new management, Fullers, want to charge £50 for using the club-room on Friday and Saturday nights and £75 for the use of the room during the day at weekends because it wants to sell more food there."

The folk club is not-for-profit, and previous landlords allowed them free use of the room since it attracted a crowd.

A spokesperson for Fullers said since the new tenant has taken over, trade has increased, leading to a demand for more space on the busiest nights of the week. The Folk Club was offered the chance to move to any night of the week except Friday and Saturday free of charge, or continue to use the rooms on these nights for a fee.

He added "At no time were the Folk Club asked to leave the pub and we are really sorry they have taken the decision to hold their events elsewhere. If they wish to either pay the hire fee for the Friday/Saturday night or take up the offer to have another night free of charge they will be welcomed back to the pub."