The establishment that claims to be Britain's "oldest pub" is closing its doors, the landlord announced Friday, citing hardships made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Christo Tofalli, the landlord of Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, a 1,200-year-old pub, said in a Facebook post announcing the closure that financial struggles prior to the health crisis have now become untenable due to the loss of business.
"Along with my team, I have tried everything to keep the pub going," Tofalli said. "However, the past two years have been unprecedented for the hospitality industry, and have defeated all of us who have been trying our hardest to ensure this multi-award-winning pub could continue trading into the future ... It goes without saying I am heartbroken: this pub has been so much more than just a business to me, and I feel honored to have played even a small part in its history."
