Pub to close 'for months' after row

ONE of Plymouth's best known pubs will be closed for the next few months after the team operating it walked away following a row over repairs.

- By WILLIAM TELFORD

The Walrus, on the corner of Notte Street and Athenaeum Street, has shut, with leasees Karen and Peter Fleet moving all scheduled events to their other bar: 'N' Joy, in Mayflower Street.

Mrs Fleet said the couple, who had run The Walrus for 12 years, decided not to renew the lease after failing to reach an agreement with owner Star Pubs over refurbishment of the premises.

Star Pubs said it wants to reopen The Walrus but it will remain closed while the pubco decides on "the future direction" of the bar.

Mrs Fleet said rising costs had made trading at The Walrus "extremely difficult", but said the deciding factor in its closure was what she described as a "complete lack of support and investment" from Star Pubs.