Sigh,
here we go again...
So, Wednesday 28th March finds the shutters down on The Gate Inn once more. Since I originally built this website back in 2008 we’ve had THREE Licensees running the place, roughly one every couple of years. Before that, the durations were pretty much the same.
So, why is this? Do they fall out of love with the place? Do they get annoyed with the demands of ‘the regulars’? Do family commitments take over? No - it seems to be pretty exclusively differences with Enterprise Inns, the brewery to which the pub is tied.
I’ve been frequenting the gate since my teens; evolving from student layabout to responsible parent. I've actually lost count of all of the licensees that have passed through those wooden doors – but I do remember most of them talking of their frustrations with Enterprise and it's practices.
Clearly, there are issues, and they need to be resolved or we’ll be locked into this situation again and again. I think for the benefit of both Enterprise Inns and its customers we need a plan. So here's my thoughts:-
1. I would like some explanation from Enterprise as to why exactly this pub has such a high burn rate of Licensees. I don’t want to know specific details, just why no-one seems to be able to make a go of it.
2. How can we, the customers, help? I’ve never spoken to any one from Enterprise, ever, and I’ve spent a fair bit of time and money in the Gate over the years. Compared to how much feedback I’ve been able to offer my other ‘suppliers’, I think hearing the views of customers could be useful.
3. Moving forward, what are Enterprises intentions for The Gate? Another Tenancy, or a brewery appointed Manager? Or something else...
I’m not putting myself forward for any position, or looking to set up any sort of protest group - I’m, unfortunately, too busy with family and work commitments. I simply have access to this website and a sense of frustration - something needs to be done, someone needs to think longer term.
There’s a Gate Inn group on Facebook -
http://www.facebook.com/groups/27970067927 if anyone would like to contribute to that, I’ve also set up an email address,
nick.whitehouse+thegateinn@gmail.com, where I can be contacted exclusively on this issue; I’ll use it put people in touch with each other if needed.
Finally, I'll be sending this piece to Enterprise Inns, I'll post any response I receive up to the Facebook group.
Cheers,
Nick