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Ivinghoe pub's last orders after 300 years
IT has survived the Bread Riots and even the introduction of income tax. But what the revenue-raising zeal failed to do has been achieved by the smoking ban and the recession.
After 300 years The Rose and Crown in Ivinghoe has served its final pint, bringing to an end a history stretched back to 1699.
Landlady Paula James has been running the pub for six years, and for the first three the pub was raking in the cash.
The smoking ban was the first in a series of fatal blows to the pub trade and, with nearly 50 pubs closing every week, Miss James said she had been delaying the inevitable for over a year.
Miss James said the smoking ban, which was brought in nearly two years ago, had seriously damaged the pub trade.
The recession has been the final nail in the coffin for those pubs which were already struggling as a result of the smoking ban, she added.
Miss James said villagers had criticised her for closing her inn.
"I gave the villagers all that time to come and support the pub but nobody did. The locals don't drink here and I just can't understand that. I have a few people from Pitstone who walk a mile to the pub and they have always remained loyal. There used to be a youth hostel in the village and I got the majority of my trade from there, but when that closed, it was a massive blow to the business.
"I have now de-licenced the property and it can be sold as a house. To be honest, I would just like to get rid of it as quickly as possible."
For the full story, see this week's Bucks Herald
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Weather for Aylesbury
Friday 25 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
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Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
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