AN East Lancashire pub-restaurant is to close, its landlord has announced.

The Butlers Arms in Pleasington has suffered from the effects of the pandemic and soaring costs which mean Michael Hales has been unable to negotiate a new lease.

The Butlers hit the headlines earlier this year when Mr Hales closed it temporarily after over-stretched staff hit breaking point over abuse from customers.

Now he has posted on Facebook: “In an industry of rising rent, utilities prices, food and labour costs, we have been unable to secure a new lease with the owners that will allow us to continue operating.

“As a result I write this post with great sadness and a heavy heart, but the time has come to announce that The Butlers Arms is closing.

“I’d like to thank you all for your custom and support over the last five years, specifically over the last couple of years.

“I’d like to thank everyone who worked for or with us, supplied us with your great produce or inspired us in any way.

“I hope that you have many happy memories of time spent at The Butlers Arms, I certainly do.

“It is my sincerest hope that the pub can be reopened and brought back to life under someone else’s leadership. Mike.”

Former licensee Stephen Hughes, of the Facebook group Blackburn and Darwen Pubs (Past and Present), said: “It is very sad to hear the announcement that the Butlers Arms is closing.

“The current landlord and hard-working team have worked wonders with this venue and built up a really good reputation as a destination eating pub.

“Unfortunately the hospitality industry is suffering across the board with rising costs, difficulties sourcing staff and customer numbers that have typically not returned to pre-Covid levels.

“Additionally, the temporary VAT reduction (to 5%) for the industry ended on October 1, with an increase to 12.5%. This in turn will revert to 20% from the beginning of next April. The VAT cut has been largely recognised for keeping many operators afloat during these difficult times.”

In June, Mr Hales made the decision to close for a spell for his staff’s wellbeing after seeing them struggling to deal with a small number of difficult customers as isolation rules brought about staff shortages. The pub subsequently reopened.

He said at the time: “Everybody I know is taking a beating from people and staff are tired. It’s chaotic at the minute. The amount of staff we had self-isolating left pressure being put on the existing staff who were then being shouted at by customers.

“I just said, let’s stop and take the pressure off the existing staff because they were at breaking point. They were ready to walk.”