The Pityme Inn at St Minver, the London Inn in Padstow, the Golden Lion in Port Isaac and the Lugger Inn in Polruan all ceased trading after service on Friday 20 February.
Winter trading issues
The sites were operated by Cornish Inns, led by co-directors Jason and Christopher Black. In a message to staff seen by local media, Jason Black said winter trading had continued to impact cash flow despite efforts to reduce costs and work with the brewery to explore options.
He wrote: “Over the last few months I have explored every possible option to keep the businesses trading. We have reduced costs wherever possible, worked closely with the brewery and looked at every possible way to strengthen our position.
“Unfortunately, winter trading has continued to impact cash flow and there is not enough capital left to continue safely and responsibly.”
‘Heavy heart’
Black added: “It is with a heavy heart that I have to let you know that we will be closing all businesses after service tonight and we will not be reopening. This has been an incredibly difficult decision.”
St Austell Brewery confirmed the closures. Chief operating officer Andrew Turner said: “We can confirm that four leased and tenanted pubs in our pub estate in Cornwall are temporarily closed.
“We recognise how important pubs are to their local communities, and decisions like this are never taken lightly.
“We continue to support our business partners, who operate the pubs independently, and will provide a further update as soon as we are able to do so.”
Other venues within the wider Cornish Inns portfolio are understood to be unaffected.
The Morning Advertiser (The MA) has approached Cornish Inns for further comment.
