Essex pub closing over staff shortages after 300 years in village

Ellie and Chris Rossetto plan to close the business at the end of November

The landlords at a 300-year-old pub said they planned to close the business at the end of the month over staffing issues, rising costs and changing customer behaviour.

Chris and Ellie Rossetto are hoping new management can take over the Fleur de Lys pub near Saffron Walden in Essex.

Ms Rossetto said a shortage of staff since Brexit and the Covid-19 lockdowns "caused a drop in standards".

"We either do it well or not at all," she said, speaking to BBC Essex.

"The British pub is an amazing thing but it's dying at the moment."

Ms Rossetto said staff did not want to work at weekends or struggled to get to the pub - which is in Widdington village - using an hourly bus service.

"What we need to do is make hospitality a profession people are proud of - I want children telling their parents 'great! I've just got a job at a pub!'," she said.

Chris and Ellie Rossetto, pictured with son Charlie, left their jobs in London in 2007 to take on the pub

Chris Rossetto Chris Ellie and their son Charlie — Chris and Ellie Rossetto, pictured with son Charlie, left their jobs in London in 2007 to take on the pub

The couple, who left their jobs in London in 2007 to run the pub, said young people were more health conscious in recent years and were more likely to use a gym on a Friday night than visit a pub.

They said they handed in their tenancy notice to the building owner six months ago.

Mr Rossetto added: "The pub allowed me time with my children when they were babies and toddlers but now they're in the school system our days off don't match and they are now at an age where I feel I need to have time with them.

"I guess for us it's a time to take stock of where we're at, how fortunate we've been and hopefully someone will take over the Fleur de Lys and we ourselves as a family will be able to go down and enjoy it."