Licensee quite in wake of price increases

9:42am Friday 11th April 2008

THE popular real ale pub The Howcroft Inn changed hands last week.

Landlord Chris Hayes quit the pub and new licensees Joe and Joan Bowyer, who ran the Kings Arms in Chorley Old Road, are due to take over.

Last Thursday, regulars found the door locked as Chris prepared to move out, but the pub has now reopened.

Chris said the recent Budget rise on alcohol prices was the last straw following the ban on smoking last July.

"I have been here for 12 months and I think I just picked the wrong time really. The budget, the smoking ban and high beer prices from Punch Taverns, which owns the building, were too much.

"I have made a lot of friends while I have been here, so I will still be coming in every now and then."

Chris, aged 23, worked in maintenance for the Bolton Lads and Girls Club before taking over the pub from Clive Nightingale, who ran several pubs through his Knight Inns company, before leaving last year to run a ski lodge in Austria.

The Howcroft runs the largest pub-based beer festival every year, raising money for the Lads and Girls Club.

Olympic silver medal for Jason