'Broken-hearted' licensees to quit North Staffordshire pub

A popular pub is looking for a new licensee - as the current landlords prepare to stand down. Neil and Nic Preston have had the Rose & Crown, in Biddulph Moor, for the past two years and have even organised this year's village Christmas lights switch-on.

But staff have now been told of their intention to leave on 27 January 2025. Now Joule's Brewery has already started looking for a replacement licensee.

In a social media post to drinkers, Nic stated: "After some long and very hard conversations and discussions, myself and Neil have taken the decision to step away from the Rose & Crown. We have genuinely loved our time here and will never forget the friendships and memories made.

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"With increasing costs within the industry and people generally feeling the pinch financially with the current economic climate, we have been struggling and we have decided for our sakes, we need to step away, but it is not a decision we have taken lightly and our hearts are genuinely broken.

"We hope you'll make the new tenants, whoever they may be, as welcome as you made us feel and we hope they flourish better than we did. Thank you to everyone for having us and we hope to make this the best Christmas ever with you all. As things stand, we will leave on January 27."

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