Skip to content

'Lack of support' to blame as pub shuts - landlord

Tim Pitman Exterior of The Old Pier Tavern in Burnham-On-Sea. It is a white building with a blue paint finish and two pub signs hanging from the wallsTim Pitman
The landlord of the Old Pier Tavern wants the town to undergo a 'regeneration'

A Burnham-On-Sea pub has shut permanently, with the landlord blaming a "tremendous lack of support" for rural small businesses.

The Old Pier Tavern reopened as a music venue in July 2023 in a bid to bring in more customers but landlord Tim Pitman said the "current economy" had hindered their prospects.

He added that not only does more need to be done to improve things for the music and pub industry, but that Burnham-On-Sea "needs a full regeneration" for businesses to survive.

Mr Pitman also said being purely a drink and music venue made it hard to make a profit.

Tim Pitman A bar in a room, full of people chatting and drinking, with pictures of Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie and Amy Winehouse painted on the wall.Tim Pitman
The pub was turned into a live music venue in 2023

Speaking to BBC Radio Somerset, Mr Pitman said: "A lot of hard work went into the pub - when I first went in there it was pretty derelict.

"Myself and the team worked very hard... to try and get the pub back on its feet, and we nearly cracked it."

Mr Pitman also accused pub chains of coming into the town "like some kind of gunslinger", undercutting prices.

Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.

More on this story