'It's been the worst time and hardest lesson' says evicted pub landlady

A “heartbroken” landlady evicted from a popular Southsea pub and placed into temporary accommodation with her two small children has described it as the “worst time ever”.

- by Steve Deeks

Sarah Lucas was taken to court by Stonegate in August to evict her from the Rutland Arms - which was then boarded up. The search is now on for a new landlord.

Sarah, who had been landlady for over a year at the Francis Avenue pub, said she “gave it everything” and was “proud” of what she had achieved in her time there.

But she cited a lack of support from Stonegate amid rising tensions before she said she was forced out of the pub.

The venue briefly shut in February before reopening days later with the 42-year-old telling The News at the time how Stonegate had terminated her agreement for “financial reasons” before she carried on after wanting to stay.

Sarah said she was given two weeks to leave the pub in August but had “nowhere to go” so stayed at the location.