Operator of the Shepherd’s Dog in Harrogate, Mike Schofield announced the closure on social media, calling it a “disappointing decision”.
He went onto thank all staff who have worked at the pub throughout the years and its customers.
The notice said: “It is with sadness I have had to take the disappointing decision to close ‘the Shepherd’s Dog’ from Monday 2 June.
“Unfortunately, due to rapid rising costs from many different areas, the pub in its current format cannot sustain itself.
“I am arranging to have the keys handed back to the brewery in order that they may find an alternative operator as quickly as possible.”
Fantastic community
It added: “I would like to thank everyone, from all team members past and present who all together made the pub the ‘community hub’ I always envisaged it should be.
“Hopefully the pub will be open again extremely quickly and the new operators can continue to build this great pub and fantastic community.”
This follows analysis of figures from the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), which found the on-trade has lost 15,800 pubs over the past quarter of a century.
Recent numbers showed from 2023 to 2024, pub numbers fell by 350 (from 45,350 to 45,000), which was the same figure as the fall from 2019 to 2020 (47,200 to 46,850).
BBPA CEO Emma McClarkin outlined the impact of the closures on the sector.
She said: “These figures are particularly painful not only because of the staff and communities that suffer when they close but because it’s completely avoidable.
“The British love affair with the pub has been unwavering, but the steady increase in red tape, taxes and bills have wiped out their tiny profits and forced them to shut up shop.”
Government action call
Furthermore, McClarkin repeated the closures were ‘completely avoidable’ in a column for The Morning Advertiser.
She also reiterated a call for action from the Government on a multitude of issues facing the sector.
The trade body boss wrote: “I know Labour wants to unlock the UK’s potential, preserve what makes Britain great and boost workers and I support that - but to do so they must make practical, meaningful changes that support pubs.
“Time is not on our side but, if [the] Government acts before it is too late, we will continue to be the heart and soul of our communities.
“It is time to back Britain’s pubs and brewers for both the economy and society.”
