The Five Bells, a public house situated in Halling, is under new management as a controversial transition in owners ended in the business being closed for a month.
The previous owners, Grant and Lily, had only been running for pub for around a year before deciding to sell and move on after stifling relationships with the local community.
The police raided the business in May 2023 as customers socialised and drank, the reason for the raid was suspected drug activity. One customer who was there at the time of the raid said, “I was sat with my Fosters and 9 or 10 policemen burst through the door, we had to leave after that but it was mental.” The man wanted to remain anonymous.
They decided to close up its doors in the final month of their ownership resulting in the village being left with only one other public house. This came after the owners had disagreements with locals, mainly through Facebook groups.
Landlady, Anne, of The Homeward Bound, the other public house in the village, said “you would think us being the only pub would be better for us but I would like to see the Bells do well, it’s better for the village.”
The community became outraged at the owners after they kicked a business named ‘Jo’s Cakes’ breakfast and coffee van out of their car park which had been used as a place for her morning food since the owners before.
Locals would gather in the mornings, often dog walkers and elderly people who were able to socialise over coffee and breakfast.
One customer of Jo’s is an elderly woman named Carol, she said “it allowed me to get out and speak to people, I live alone so those mornings were break for me. I’ve missed my coffees.”
The relationship between the pub and the community further diminished after people who spoke out against the changes were actively banned from entering and drinking there.
I spoke with the owners who had big plans in renovating the garden and converting it into a sports pub, with sheltered booths each with their own television, expanding the car park, implementing a restaurant with food. Grant had said I could report on the renovations, however with their departure, the plans are no longer apparent.
The new owner, a woman named Georgia Newick, was unavailable for an interview as they have spent the first days of their management this week landscaping and making adjustments to the interior. However, Jo and her breakfast community made a return this morning to the car park as dog walkers and locals enjoyed her services.