Heartbreak for pub landlord

DECISION TO QUIT 'UNAVOIDABLE' DUE TO RISING COSTS AND 'WEIGHT' OF BUSINESS RATES

- By GEORGE PALMER-SOADY

THE landlord of a traditional country pub is calling time after 10 years behind the bar.

Ed Hackland says rising costs and uncertainty around business rates for pubs are among the reasons he is leaving The Waggon at Halam, at The Turnpike, near Southwell.

He took over the tenancy of the pub in 2016, and has gone on to earn rave reviews.

In 2023, The Waggon even beat 204 other pubs across the country to win the title of best premium pub food, at the Thwaites Hospitality Awards.

However, due to rising costs and a desire for "a better work-life balance", Mr Hackland has notified operators Thwaites Brewery of his intention to leave.