Landlords are given marching orders after spectacular row with locals over 'bizarre' pub rule to wear slippers descended into threats of violence

Daily Mail​

28-04-2025

When Colin Swindlehurst and his partner Tracy Jones took over the Jolly Farmers pub, punters hoped for a steady period after a succession of landlords had come through its doors.
But they claim the couple failed to live up to the name of the venue by ordering rural workers to swap muddy boots for slippers when they came in, swearing at drinkers and even warning they had a shotgun behind the bar.
The new landlords' tenure was ended just a fortnight after they moved in when a pub chain manager sent to find out what was happening alleged Mr Swindlehurst called him 'several offensive names' and then 'twice tried to grab and hit him'.
Mr Swindlehurst insists the claims were false and that the people of Ormesby in Norfolk simply didn't warm to the 'northern forwardness' he and Ms Jones brought to the area, with their 'banter' and straight talking.
For now, the pub is closed while owners Stonegate try to find someone new to take over and regain the trust of the community.
Describing how their hopes of winning over locals were quickly dashed, Mr Swindlehurst explained he asked a gamekeeper to remove his muddy wellies before coming in - a system he said he and Ms Jones had introduced at a pub in Devon previously.
When the gamekeeper refused to comply, he was barred from entering.
'All the farmers [in Devon] used to respect our pub,' said Mr Swindlehurst.
'What they used to do is take their shoes off and put them in a little cupboard outside the pub. They all put on little slippers to come in.'
The couple installed lockers for footwear outside the Jolly Farmers in the hope the system would catch on.
But instead, it sparked bitter online complaints, with one punter complaining on the pub's Facebook page: 'I'd probably act a bit nicer to all us locals. So far, I'd say you're losing custom rather than gaining any.
'And as for muddy boots, where are we supposed to drink?'
Another wrote: 'Far from a jolly experience. Rude abusive lady behind the bar. Seemed unable to string a sentence together and when she did it was with a tirade of F words thrown in. Ormesby deserves so much better!'
Rumours of the shotgun then began circulating, with another local saying: 'I did hear someone was threatened with a gun they kept upstairs apparently.'
Despite others pointing out they would be 'be in cuffs' if this were true, Stonegate had no option but to send in someone from HQ to try and fix the situation.
Mr Swindlehurst complained: 'Anonymous people on Facebook, straight away, said that my partner was downstairs at the bar, drunk with a shotgun.
The pub has gone through three sets of landlords in the past 12 months, leaving locals concerned about when it will stay open for good
'They contacted Stonegate too. As soon as you mention a gun, that's the pub knackered. If there was a gun, then why did the police not come?
'All Stonegate want to do it listen to these anonymous people. We don't even have a gun.'
The couple took over the pub on March 27, with plans to bring in drinkers with bingo nights, karaoke and a new menu, and had a visit from head office just five days later on April 1 as the crisis deepened.
They say the manager asked Ms Jones if she had a gun and she denied it, with Mr Swindlehurst, who was out at the time, admitting he lost his temper when he heard what had happened.
'I said "Hang on a minute, why is Stonegate listening to this rubbish?" I went absolutely mental,' he said.
He returned to the pub and admits he stormed into the bar 'like a raging bull' - but insists he remained 'two church pews' from the man at all times.
'He must have been standing at least 15-20ft away from me,' he said.
'When they said I went to punch him, I said "Hang on, I'm not Stretch Armstrong".'
A few days later the couple received a letter from Stonegate informing them their tenancy had been terminated.
It went on to state the manager had received 'several threatening and abusive messages' after the meeting which had made him feel 'extremely anxious and unwell' - although Mr Swindlehurst claims he did 'nothing but apologise' in the messages.
The pub closed on April 10, with Mr Swindlehurst blaming a culture clash between north and south on the problems.
'At the end of the day, we might have been a bit forward. We're northern,' he said.
'I say how it is. I don't do BS. If I think someone is talking BS, I'll tell them to their face. But a lot of people don't like it. It's different up north.
'Down in Devon, it took them about three to four months for them to get used to our forwardness and banter and then they loved it.
'The people in Devon were crying when we left. But we never stood a chance in Ormesby.'
A local, who asked not to be named, told the Mail: 'They rubbed people up the wrong way right from the start. Has anyone ever heard of a pub telling people they have to wear slippers? It's ridiculous.
'It all went south very quickly. They were rude and you don't get far like that as a pub landlord.'
Another said: 'I don't know about a shotgun but everyone was talking about the place. I say good riddance.'
But pub chef Tom Proctor, 21, defended the couple, saying: 'I can tell you there was no gun pulled out on anyone, there was nothing.
'Everyone was so against Colin and Tracy. All they did was treat me with kindness. They even got me somewhere to stay for the night.
'It's a country pub, so there's bound to be a few bits of bad language over the bar but that's only if you know your customers.'
The pub had a £150,000 revamp in 2021 and is now formally know as The Farmers, although many locals still refer to it by its former name, the Jolly Farmers.
Despite its upbeat name, it has seen three sets of landlords come through its doors in 12 months, with long spells when it remained closed.
A community group called 'Save the (Jolly) Farmers, Ormesby' had been set up and recently succeeded in a bid to have it nominated as an Asset of Community Value.
Under the system, a local authority recognises a building or piece of land that is vital to the community and lists it to prevent a change of use or demolition.
Kathryn Wendt, chairman of Ormesby St Margaret with Scratby Parish Council, said: 'It's very important because it's the only pub in the village. All the other pubs in the village have closed. It was a community hub for quizzes and meet-ups.
'The parish council supported the application for Asset of Community Value and being able to keep the pub open but it's now up to the owners what they do about it.'
The pub is being advertised on Stonegate's website with rent of just over £800 per week and a forecast annual turnover of around £620,000.
The entry states the 'delightful pub', set in a village with 2,750 residents, has a 'well-equipped commercial kitchen [and] delightful garden and patio areas'.
A spokesperson for Stonegate Group said: 'We can confirm that we have terminated the agreement with the former publican of the Jolly Farmer in Ormesby St Margaret in accordance with our contractual terms.
'This decision was made due to multiple incidents of unacceptable behaviour towards both Stonegate colleagues and the pub's guests, which we will not tolerate.
'Consequently, the Jolly Farmer has been temporarily closed while we recruit for a new publican. We are committed to reopening the pub under new management as soon as possible.'