Sadness as popular Shropshire country pub announces closure with rising hospitality costs 'impossible'

A popular country pub has confirmed its closure - describing the “impossible” impact of rising hospitality costs.

The Haughmond in Upton Magna, near Shrewsbury, announced the news in a post on social media.

The pub was taken over last year, by Northumberland-based Alta Asset Management.

It had been put up for sale in 2024 after the owners looked for someone to take it "to a new level".

But the pub has now closed, with a statement thanking customers for their support and detailing the difficulties facing hospitality businesses in the current economic environment.

It said: “It is with great sadness that we announce that The Haughmond has closed with immediate effect.

“This decision has not been made lightly but the last few years have brought enormous challenges.

“Rising costs across every area of the industry, ongoing economic pressures, and the difficulties facing independent hospitality businesses have made it impossible for us to continue trading.

“Sadly, this now leaves us as yet another statistic of a pub and hospitality business forced to close during this government’s term, alongside so many other independent venues across the country struggling to survive under relentless financial pressure.

“To all our loyal customers, thank you for supporting us, dining with us, celebrating with us, and staying with us!

“A huge thank you to our amazing team. We are hugely grateful to every single one of you and anyone looking for staff we thoroughly recommend all of them! They’re bloody great! Thank you again to everyone who supported us throughout the journey.”