Pub chain with 1,700 boozers closing branch at heart of community as locals say they ‘can’t believe’ it

A PUB chain with almost 1,700 UK boozers has announced plans to close one of its branches and locals are up in arms.

The Manor House in Portsmouth, run by Greene King, is gearing up to pull down its shutters for the final time.

A spokesperson for the chain confirmed the pub will close, but did not reveal which date.

They said: "Closing a pub is never an easy decision, so it is with great regret that we have begun a formal consultation with the team at The Manor House.

"Our focus is on finding alternative roles for our team members at our other pubs in Portsmouth and the pub will remain open and trading as usual over the coming weeks before we confirm a closing date in due course."

News of the closure has shocked the local community, with some residents setting up a Facebook page to save the boozer.

Group members are even planning to set up a committee to save the pub and have called on local MP Penny Mourdant to step in.

Posting on , one local said: "I can't believe Greene King are (sic) selling this pub.

"Don't they know how important it is in the community."

Another, who said they were previously landlord at the pub for four years, said: "It was a great pub with wonderful customers.

"Many happy memories and true friends made. Such a shame to take away another community asset."

A third simply said: "The Manor will always be part of my heart."

It comes as a number of UK pubs close their doors for good amid a turbulent economic backdrop.

Inflation remains stubbornly high meaning households have less expendable cash to burn.

Increased energy and wage costs are piling further pressure on businesses.

Last month, Wetherspoon's boss Tim Martin said the business "continues to perform well".

But the chain has closed 34 pubs in the last 18 months and has also put 27 more up for sale in the last year - 10 of which are under offer.

Stonegate, the group which runs Yate's and Slug and Lettuce pubs, has also sparked fury by hiking the price of drinks from 5pm to 7pm to offset rising operational costs.

The "dynamic pricing" strategy has seen some punters charged £7.60 instead of £7.05 at peak times.

Retailers on the high street have been hit hard too.

Cath Kidston, Paperchase, M&Co and popular discounter Wilko have all crashed into administration this year.

Wilko has since announced plans to return to the high street, with branches in Plymouth, Exeter and Luton set to open within weeks.

On Monday, Paperchase reopened inside 250 Tesco supermarkets in June M&Co relaunched online.

A number of retailers have been opening branches as well as closing them too.

In July, B&M announced plans to open seven new branches in the UK over the following weeks.

Bargain discounter Poundland is taking on former Wilko sites as well.

And The Cornish Bakery said in September it would be looking to open five new stores over the following months.

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