Closure of The Poacher
February 15, 2009 – 2:09 pmSadly I have been informed today that the Poacher pub is shutting next Sunday, although I have not had this officially confirmed. I may be behind the drag curve with this as many of you may already have heard but that to me is an indication of how this community functions now. Too busy to have time to relax and go and meet friends and neighbours for a while for a jar and a yack. Prices of everything too high to allow regular conviviality.
We seem to be losing all our amenity facilities in this community which is a huge shame for the community itself.
I know that these recent months have seen dreadful times which are not easy for anyone with the current economic climate. It is having a very drastic effect on this community. Shops, post office now pub ( there used to be 5 here) gone.
But it is not the only thing. In recent years the village itself has changed enormously in terms of the village community spirit.
As Clerk I have seen a gradual slipping away of interaction in the community. Many organisations that relied on volunteers and people getting together have gradually gone as no-one can be found to take them on. People seem to be getting more insular, possibly due to pressures of work. I know that current legislation hasn’t helped as the checks and other burdens of volunteering make the whole process a minefield of tedium to be negotiated but it really is a great shame. I constantly hear people say how much they would like to see these up and running and would like to be able to participate themselves or see such possibilities for their children. But they are not prepared to take on the responsibility themselves or simply don’t have the time through increasing pressures of work commitments.
So here I am still working at this time, tapping into a keyboard and staring into a monitor hoping some sympathetic person may send me a funny with an email to cheer me up and give me a laugh, instead of being able to walk out and meet friends for an hour or so. Nuts isn’t it?
This will wing its way to you – some of whom I am sorry to say I have never met - maybe I might tomorrow if I am snowed in and can take a walk round the village.
Has our pattern of life really got better?
Cheers – to the Poacher - formerly the Fox and Hounds
Liz Sim
Elsworth Parish Clerk
Mercia Cottage
Brockley Road
Elsworth
Cambridge
CB23 4JS
01954 267664
11 Responses to “Closure of The Poacher”
oh! that is a shame! Eddy would be shuffling in his grave….
Not sure why this is happening to Elsworth. In comparison Needingworth has a great local community. It is a bigger village. As you know there are 3 pubs (two of which are really restaurants - Ferryboat and The Pike and Eel). The ‘local’ pub (Queens Head) always gets a local crowd. They do good honest pub grub, and most evenings are full with eaters. They also have a darts team and pool team - quiz nights, etc…
Needingworth also has a decent sports and social crowd - bowling for the oldies, and tennis, football for the rest. The local church put on events for all the village (toddler groups, teenage evenings).
Elsworth is an expensive village to buy a house in. A similar village is Hemingford. But Hemingford by comparison also has a large sports and social gathering and the pub seems to do well.
Who are the Elsworth locals nowadays? Do they work locally or in London. Do their kids go to the local school?
Ian
By Ian Megginson on Feb 15, 2009
I, too have heard this news. It is said that closure is due to the tenants/managers being in acute financial difficulties - ie it is their problem not the Poacher’s that is the cause.
Can we get some more/better info? Is it in fact correct (as I have always understood it) that the Poacher belongs to a company owning several pubs? If so, who are they? Can we contact them? It may be that closure is temporary, simply because they need time to find a new manager or it may be more serious & permanent.
But don’t just look at the gloomy side. Can you think of a better place to have a village shop/post office/cafe/pub/restaurant? It could be a wonderful opportunity!
By Paul Solon on Feb 15, 2009
Hi there,
Won’t someone else will buy it?
By Emily Johnson on Feb 15, 2009
Dear Liz
Like you, I was very sorry to learn that The Poacher is closing down on Sunday. Like you, I remember it as The Fox & Hounds with its attractive carved inn sign.
Ian P
By Ian Penfold on Feb 15, 2009
Hi Liz
Any indication as to what the owners intend to do with the Pub. I understand that it is owned by Punch Taverns.
Ian
By Ian Maddison on Feb 15, 2009
Thanks Liz
It’s not only lack of social contact more that they have priced themselves out of the business. We no longer wander to a pub, either of them, when beer is getting on to £3 a pint.
Is it really that bad in Elsworth? The WI, NWR, Men’s Group, Whist drives and cricket and football all seem to be thriving. The church has a small but active congregation.
How about having inviting the residents to have an exchange of ideas one evening before the PC meeting?.
John Hicks
By John Hicks on Feb 15, 2009
Hi Liz, It is indeed very sad about the poacher, and I have even considered taking it on myself! I don’t think it closed though because of lack of community spirit but because it was appallingly run. The recent incumbents had NO idea how to run a pub. The food was abysmal. What we need is some one who wants to run a nice pub, not a restaurant to be flogged for all it’s worth. Why don’t we run the pub asa community effort??
We probably do need more community things, like the up-coming safari supper - perhaps more of this??
Any ideas??
Gaynor
By Gaynor Clements on Feb 15, 2009
Really sorry to hear about the Poacher. Any prospect of re-opening under different mangement? Any talk about running it as a community pub like Harlton? What progress on the community running the Post Office? You are right about people not having time to meet and chat Remember the early 80’s when we were in and out of each other’s houses
Cheers,
Tim
By Tim Coles on Feb 16, 2009
Greeting from Australia. I visited Elsworth, briefly, in 2005. My grandfather was born in Elsworth. My 1st ancestor to arrive in Elsworth was William Brand in abt.1730, and the last to leave, died there, 280 years later, in December 2008. The majority of them were farmer labourers, and would mostly likely have enjoyed an ale or two after a day’s work. Today’s residents are a different “breed”. With most of the village now being “Heritage Listed” prices have gone up, and the younger, more affluent and more mobile have arrived. These are not the type of residents that frequent the simple village local pub on a nightly basis in the same way as the Ag Lab’s of old did. They want, and demand something better? There are not enough people living in Elsworth to support the “old style pub”. If nothing else is happening, no-one will come. The “Mine Host” does not exist any more. In his place is an Accountant! A well-known phrase Use it, or lose it! does not only refer to the functioning of the human body? ….. The same WILL happen to your POST OFFICE! It has passed it’s USE BY date. When was the last time it was open for a FULL FIVE-DAY week? Advancements in technology has already killed it. Sentiment alone will not keep it open. The ideas, and things we grew up with are like our favourite pair of slippers. We can’t bear to part with them, but sooner or later we have to throw them out. Sometimes it costs more keep than it does to replace. Is it really worth it.
By Edward Brand on Feb 17, 2009
Well of course we all want to see the ‘local’ carry on, but, as EB says above, sentiment alone will not keep it open. Regardless of who lives in the village, the fact of the matter is most pubs cannot survive just by opening their doors to sell drinks. You have to entice folk in and that means offering a warm welcome, good, value-for-money grub, quiz nights, etc.
By Peter Deer on Feb 18, 2009
I would like to introduce myself as the Selection Coordinator at Punch Partnerships.
Punch Partnerships are the owners of this building and I am pleased to say that the closure of the Poacher is a temporary measure until we find somebody to run their business within the pub.
I am happy to talk to anybody about how to get into the pub business and more importantly the Poacher and if you yourself are interested or you know anybody that would be suitable please give me a call.
My name is Jo Preston and I can be contacted on 0844 848 0951.
By Punch Taverns on Feb 26, 2010