Former gay bar closes its doors
One of Lincoln's most prominent pubs has closed its doors.
The Horse and Groom pub in Carholme Road has "to let" signs posted outside it along with notes warning customers the site is temporarily closed for business.
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The Horse and Groom in Carholme Road, Lincoln
Little is known about the closure of a pub motorists stare at every day while waiting at the Carholme Road traffic lights.
It had once been the city's main gay bar until it was turned into a live music venue when it changed hands in 2007.
Now its closure has shone a light once again on the perilous state of small pubs in the city.
One landlord told the Echo he needed to make £250 a day to break even.
Yet on his two busiest days last week – Friday and Saturday – he made just £120 and £220 respectively.
Bramwell Burn, leaseholder of the Crown Inn in Baggholme Road, Lincoln, said some pubs were barely able to stay afloat in current trading conditions.
"We are finding it very difficult," he said.
"People never realise that when the Chancellor reduced VAT, he added it onto beer and fags.
"He has now added the 2.5 per cent on VAT, but hasn't taken it off the beer and fags.
"As well as that, the big chain pubs are putting the little ones out of business."
The Horse and Groom could well be open for business again soon if it is let out..
But for the time-being, the kitchen is closed and a sign has gone up stating "pub business to let".
Enterprise Inns, the owners of the Horse and Groom, declined to comment.
14 Comments
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by lynn, lincoln
Wednesday, January 27 2010, 1:03PM
“I have just passed this pub and its car park is full, where are all the owners? Looks like a 'free for all' parking on this site unless I'm very much mistaken.”
by Brian, Lincoln
Tuesday, January 26 2010, 6:29PM
“Lincoln is just rubbish for pubs. There is nowhere sophisticated to drink for decent people. The bars are full of time wasters, students or yobs. As a 39 year old gay male I can tell you that both gay venues in Lincoln are terrible, they always seem to get idiot managers and landlords that have no clue as to how to run a descent bar/pub and have little experience or just full of attitude! Most ordinary good people prefer to stay at home in Lincoln as there just is nowhere nice in the city centre to go at all.”
by the landlord-that-was!, hell
Tuesday, January 26 2010, 5:22PM
“A: the gay community does not need another venue. it has 2 that it doesnt support.
B: the government has screwed the life out of pubs. period! yes, were in a recession, but we werent when the smoking ban came in, and we werent 12mnths ago when pubs were closing on a daily basis. we live in a dictatorship. you cant drive, you cant smoke you cant drink......... and to make sure we have no choice but to comply, the government tax everything. labours legacy will be 'death of all pubs'!!”
by dean, lincoln
Tuesday, January 26 2010, 5:20PM
“knock it down build tempory houseing for immigrants its close to benifit office and council when they want to go an apply for housing and benifits etc or sholud we hv a car park”
by lynn, lincoln
Tuesday, January 26 2010, 5:06PM
“This would make a perfect car park, so close to the City. A few years' ago the Landlord used to let commuters park free, as long as they had lunch there at least once a month, can't get parking much cheaper than that.”