Landlord out of Abbeydale pub Ridge and Furrow after 13 years
PUB landlord Steve Luckett is "heartbroken and shattered" after discovering his 13-year lease at the Ridge & Furrow is being ripped up.
Steve, 49, found out he was losing his job and his home in a short phone call from pub bosses at Trust Inns.
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HEARTBREAKING: Steve Luckett, landlord of the Ridge & Furrow in Abbeydale.
The company has given Steve and his family six months to leave the much-loved Abbeydale watering hole after deciding to hand back a long-term lease to land owners Morrisons.
Speculation in the community is now rife that long-standing rumours of a petrol station being built on the site are nearing reality. The family inn has become a focal point for the community in the last decade, winning several awards in that time.
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"This pub has been my baby, the support I have had from people has brought me to tears, said Steve. "Thousands of people use the pub every week. We have wakes, christenings, engagement parties and birthdays here – it will be missed."
Morrisons denied it was planning to take on the site in 2009.
"The brewery has said it is handing the lease back to Morrisons because the rent had become too expensive," said Steve. "If they offer it to me, there is no way I could afford it so they will do what they want with the site."
Councillor Gordon Taylor, (C, Abbey) said: "It is the only pub you can walk to around here, it would be a big loss."
Coun Andrew Gravells (C, Abbey) said: "This pub is an Abbey institution, the news came out of the blue. I am in discussions with Morrisons to find out what their plans are for the site and what people in the community think of their proposals."
Ray Peart has been a regular drinker there for the last 13 years.
He said: "Steve has turned the pub round from a drug den into the heart of the community. He has done a brilliant job, where will we go now?"
Trust Inns and Morrisons were unavailable for comment.
Comments
by BertieBus
Monday, October 01 2012, 6:00PM
“Sorry but I am with the Biker Hiker on this one. This pubs ok if your in with the landlord but if your not forget it. The staff are well rude and the pubs not that warm and friendly either. The food is take it or leave it and poor quality and the place seems very run down. Get the bulldozers out and start again. Maybe a brand new pub with a new landlord and new staff will turn things around! You got to see Morrisons point of view its owned by them and just perfect for that much needed petrol station. Out with the old and in with the new I say.”
by dcfc79
Monday, October 01 2012, 4:46PM
“The guy has turned the pub around a si rmemeber it was a dodgy pub, I always thought the land the pub was on was owned by the brewery.”
by BikerHiker
Monday, October 01 2012, 3:45PM
“I wont be sad to see this pub close down and the kebab van. If the pubs gets thousands of customers everyweek it must mean its profitable but no the truth by Steve Lucketts own admission is struggling and that is why he needed to get the kebab van in to make it profitable. (see previous TIG news articles)Maybe if it wasnt so clicky more people would use it and it would make money. Well Morrisons hurry up with the petrol station so we can have cheap fuel on our doorstep luvly jubbly.”
by danm77
Monday, October 01 2012, 11:21AM
“The petrol station idea has been mentioned for years but nothing ever came of it. This seems a case of the rent being too high for Trust Inns to pay, obviously the pub isnt as profitiable as the landlord thinks.
I have lived in Abbeydale for over 30 years and to be fair Steve has turned the Ridge around from the dank pit it was 10 - 15 years ago BUT it is a real local pub for local people and I wonder whether this is enought for Trust Inns. Go there on a summer Saturday afternoon when there is no sport and the bar is dead. Its the same during week day daytimes too. A shame but this is the way all local pubs seem to be going, unless you are a "resturant first, pub second" then there seems to be no way to make a pub work.”
by MentalBeaver
Monday, October 01 2012, 7:36AM
“So the Turmut is not within walking distance? I've often walked past the Ridge & Furrow to go there instead.”
by MrGarnet
Sunday, September 30 2012, 12:35PM
“I think it will be a great shame if this pub closes.
Everywhere you go now their are shuttered up pubs.
I think it is a good pub with resonably priced food and a wide range of beers.
Sky for the football and has entertainment and offers on regularly I do not get why the pub and landlord seem to attract negative comments when in the news?”
by moody_meady
Saturday, September 29 2012, 5:30PM
“Councillor Gordon Taylor, (C, Abbey) said: "It is the only pub you can walk to around here, it would be a big loss." Mr Taylor obviously forgot about the Abbeydale Community Centre which is 30 seconds down the road and no longer requires a membership. I do agree that it is a shame the Ridge is closing down, Steve has done a very good job with the place!”
by dcfc79
Saturday, September 29 2012, 1:39PM
“I believe the new morrisons at the triangle was meant to be having a PFS anyway so it would be a bit daft to put 1 at the abbeydale store as well.”
by Ysedra
Saturday, September 29 2012, 11:35AM
“he looks sad in that picture. Here's a reminder of (slightly) happier times...
http://tinyurl.com/brxnjz3”
by Douglasknows
Saturday, September 29 2012, 10:20AM
“If it's that busy and he says he couldn't afford the rent then why should anyone else pay it.”