Last orders at one of Britain's oldest pubs as it is forced to close because of increased running costs after nearly 500 years

Daily Mail​

21-04-2025

One of the oldest pubs in the country has been forced to close after nearly half a millenium in business.
Hole in the Wall in Torquay, Devon, first opened its doors in 1540 but has closed due to increased running costs.
Pub landlord Richard Rossendale-Cook, 81, said rising costs had forced his hand in the decision.
Speaking last month, he told ITV News: 'I'm very very sad, of course I'd like to carry on.'
'But unless somebody comes up - a Russian oligarch or someone will give me £360,000 to go and pay off the bill, you are going to shut and that's the end of it.'
The brewery-owned pub is being closed down as Mr Rossendale-Cook is no longer able to afford the rent.
On March 26, the pub's Facebook page posted: 'It is with great sadness that we announce that the Hole In The Wall will cease trading from the close of Sunday, 13th April 2025.
'We'd like to thank you all for your loyal custom over the years, with many great memories created, to add to the centuries' more storied history here at the Hole.'
Richard estimated he had paid the brewery £1.2million in rent and beer over the past seven years.
But he said declining numbers of people eating in the pub restaurant had contributed to financial difficulties.
The pub was known for live music being played in the premises on seven nights a week.
The Hole in the Wall has survived the English Civil War and the Second World War and Richard said he hoped that this would not be the end for the pub.
Last year the number of pubs in the country fell to its lowest level in a century.
More than one pub a day closed its doors to leave just 38,989, the smallest figure since records began in 1990.
But the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) believes the scale of the crisis is far greater – estimating the last time there were so few watering holes in England and Wales was a century ago.
Some 412 pubs were demolished or converted into shops or flats over the year to December, according to analysis of Government statistics by property consultancy Altus.
This is the sharpest plunge in pub numbers since 2021, when venues were crippled by Covid rules and rampant energy prices.
Disappointed punters reacted to news of the historic pub's closure on X.
One user wrote: 'Surely the town council should protect these sorts of things? 500 years, gone. People will stop visiting these places if we allow all the history to be erased.'
Another said: 'Hopefully it gets bought and remains the pub...not knocked down for a Turkish barbers or vape shop.'
Another user wrote: 'An absolute disgrace. Does this pub not constitute a historic building to be preserved?'
Taking to Facebook, more locals spoke of their disappointment at the loss of the pub.
One said: 'So we are loosing a real pub, one without big sports screens and gambling machines dominating the place. A place to chat with people from around the country and around the world who have found the Hole.
'The local musicians brought great atmosphere to this unique pub in Torquay; it will be greatly missed.'