A BERKELEY pub is to close after a ‘tough year’ in the wake of the pandemic.

The owners of the Lammastide Inn at Brookend, Berkeley have announced that they will not be reopening.

Simon and Pauline Winearls, who have run the pub for 14 years, said that despite their best efforts, it had not been possible to keep it going.

In an announcement on social media they posted: “Due to the challenging time we have faced with the current pandemic, we have decided that we will not be reopening the Lammastide Inn.

“We thank you all for your support over the years and hope your support continues following this notice.”

Landlord Simon Winearls said the business had been struggling for the past six years, and pub closures and restrictions during the pandemic had been the last straw.

“My wife Pauline and I have run the pub for 14 years, with the help of four to five members of staff,” he said.

“We have had the pleasure of serving and meeting people from all walks of life.

“Unfortunately over the last five to six years we have noticed a decline in the number of people using the pub.”

Mr Winearls said that he and his wife had wanted to add holiday lets to the site, to make it more profitable, but the plans had been turned down.

“We tried to invest money into planning for holiday lets, as we believed it would have made the business more viable.

“Unfortunately we were refused planning permission for them,” he said.

“After that, I decided to start another business to help support the pub, but after the last year with the Covid pandemic and the on going restrictions we have now decided that the pub is not viable to keep open.

“My wife and I would like to thank everybody who has supported us over the years and also thank the people who understand what we been through this last year.

“Our aim for the future is to continue living at the Lammastide as this has been our home for fourteen years.”