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Hole in the Wall has closed after almost 500 years. Landlord Richard Rossendale-Cook (pictured) (Image: Hole in the Wall/ITV News)
One of the country's oldest pubs open when Henry VIII was on the throne has been forced to close after almost 500 years. Hole in the Wall, in Torquay, Devon, opened in 1540 - the same year the Tudor monarch was married to his fifth wife, Catherine Howard.
But rising costs, rent and bills mean last orders has been called for the final time at the watering hole. Landlord Richard Rossendale-Cook, 81, told ITV News: "I'm very, very sad. Of course, I'd like to carry on. But unless somebody comes up - a Russian oligarch or someone (who) will give me £360,000 to go and pay off the bill, you know, you're going to shut because that's the end of it." Hole in the Wall was shut by HMRC after Mr Rossendale-Cook could no longer pay the rent on the pub, which is owned by a brewery, according to ITV. It was due to close in February, but liquidators gave the landlord an extension until this month.
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Speaking in March, Mr Rossendale-Cook suggested a shift in drinking habits accounted for the then-looming closure.
He said: "It might be that the world is just totally changing. [People say,] 'Oh I love your pub, I've never been anywhere like it' - but they don't come back. They've been in here, they've got the T-shirt and that's it."
A drop in diners at the pub's restaurant had also added to financial pressures, according to the pensioner.
In February, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said that six pubs were closing for good per week.
Its latest figures show almost 300 pubs closed in England and Wales last year - the equivalent of six a week.
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Locals have expressed disappointment at the Hole in the Wall's closure (Image: Hole in the Wall)
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Figures from the Campaign for Real Ale have shown 303 pubs across England, Scotland and Wales closed in the first three months of this year.
The BBPA, which says it represents over 20,000 pubs, urged the Government to stick to a commitment to reform business rates, arguing that by doing so the "enormous" scale of closures could be halted.
According to the Association, the beer and pub sector contributes over £34billion in a single year to the UK economy.
Hole in the Wall's closure on April 13 prompted tributes from locals, who posted on social media.
Malcolm Gleave wrote on Facebook: "You were one of the reasons we chose Torquay. I am so disappointed. The food was great."
Richard Beasley said: "Gutted, wishing you all the very best for the future! Thank you for all the great memories over the years where we’ve spent each night whilst there."
