By Ian Haworth
The oldest pub in England, which may be as much as 1,229 years old, has been forced to close down due to COVID-19 hardships.
According to The Washington Post, “the pandemic and the government’s public health restrictions squeezed [Christo Tofalli’s] business until he couldn’t meet its financial obligations.”
Tofalli took over the lease of the pub in 2012.
“Before the pandemic hit, the escalating business rates and taxations we were managing meant trading conditions were extremely tough,” Tofalli wrote on Facebook, “but we were able to survive and were following an exciting five-year plan and were hopeful for the future.”
“However the COVID-19 pandemic was devastating and our already tight profit margins gave us no safety net,” he wrote.
The Washington Post added that Mitchells & Butlers, one of the largest operators of restaurants, bars and pubs in Britain, said in a statement: “We can confirm that sadly our tenants at Ye Old Fighting Cocks have appointed administrators [for the insolvency process] but can reassure locals that this is not the end for the pub.”
full story at https://www.dailywire.com/news/1229-year-old-ye-old-fighting-cocks-pub-survived-war-famine-and-the-plague-closed-by-covid-19