Neil Morrissey gives up the Punch Bowl

Ye Olde Punch Bowl Inn re-opened this week and had fantastic support from the locals, the pub opened the doors at 6pm last Thursday and remained packed all evening. The Punch has returned to its original style with great Yorkshire beers, curtains at the windows and a great locals atmosphere and warmth, what a change from the previous offering, Morrissey Fox thought they new everything, what an expensive joke. the village has really voted with ther feet Brian

Really pleased to see that Ye Olde Punch Bowl is re opening this coming Thursday November 12th. The owner, with help from the Haywood family are to bring the pub back to a real community asset with good food at proper prices, a range of traditional beers, Timothy Taylors and Black Sheep all with a great local and family atmosphere I can also confirm that new curtains are in place which should remove the awfull wine bar image created by MO/FO Brian

Visited this pub on a couple of occasions and was impressed with food, beer and ambience. Biggest problem was location: whilst idyllic it was a bit 'out the way'. Was also a little upmarket for local trade. Our old local, The Swaledale Arms, used to have two seperate bars. A locals end with darts, pool etc supporting local leagues, and a food end, totally seperate. The landlord asked the locals how they liked their beer and what ales they wanted, and even how they liked it kept. Result: happy locaals who used the pub a lot, even when food trade was slow. In these hard times a return to this formula would held many locals scrape by. Also always ensure the food menu always features reasonably priced staples: sometimes you want a treat, sometimes just to eat. I hope Neil and Richard find a free house and return to the trade. Why not buy the Swaledale? It's empty and little competition left in the area - they're all shut!

I was fascinated by the TV program, a camera friend and I travelled 110 miles to see if they were true, no sign of the celebs. Student staff didn't know anything about the trade, beers or conversation. The beers were very good as was the food, the manager very knowledgeable. I still search for their beer and enjoy an evening in my local when it's available (on the Fylde Coast). Half of me says 'shame', half says 'tuff'

It is clear that they dis-enfranchised the village. and lost the support of the locals, which should have been their bread and butter. It lost the feel of being a Yorkshire country pub, and looked more like a London Wine Bar. However, having sunk so much money into it, micro-brewery etc, I suspect they had big debts to service. It was always a reasonably busy pub, but not sufficiently busy to service their obligations, I suspect. Any newcomer who takes it over will all of the facilities and investment "for free" and would presumably b able to command a much better Rent Deal from the Landlords than was available 18 months ago ...so th whole financial dynamic may be more beneficial.

No particular fan of either of these two gentlemen (as I don't know either of them) I think some of the comments are quite harsh...... There are very few of us in the industry who can say that at some stage WE won't lose all we've worked so hard for!

As a villager of Marton-cum-Grafton I was gutted to see our pub shut. I gave Neil and Richard loads of support in the beginning as the previous landlords weren't very good at all. It will be interesting to see what happens next... A local lad took on another pub 3 miles away, "The Tiger Inn" and has totally transformed it into a great boozer. He was seen outside the punch this morning according to the local gossip. I hope he takes it on and then I can walk for a great pint and dinner instead of having to use my car! I hope Richard and Neil do get back into the business but I highly doubt anyone will lend them the money. As for the comments on this post about their initial money... This was supplied by backers not they themselves so I guess they aren't as out of pocket as the suppliers they no doubt left behind...

I think this is a fine example of how our buisness is seen from the customer side of the bar. They come in for one or two hours a week and see a well groomed landlord or landlady chatting to their regular customers and freinds. It looks easy so they have ago. They pour an endless stream of money (not earned through the business) at their chosen venue, recruit an army of staff, to enable them to "chat at the end of the bar" but fail to realise the dedication and long hours of hard work needed to work a venue, especially a village pub. So when the money starts to get a little short the army is unrecruited and then they realise what a bloody hard slog this business really is. The keys are handed back or sold, and another village pub declines a little further. I am really sorry that mr Morrisy and partner has failed in their venture, but I do hope that this news could be used to bring the plight of the village pub the the people who have the powers to keep this unreplaceable institution alive.

Yes it is sad to see another business fall by the wayside.. but I do feel a little smug that now he sees the reality of the industry. The comments he made about other licensees who have gone bump, disregarding the difficulties they faced. now he knows the reality of the business & what a cold hard world it is.. Unlike other tennants who went to the wall i assume theres still some money left in his kitty. Maybe he'll think before he makes comments next time & maybe it wont come & bite him on the bum.

After the open meeting with the villagers very little of what was promised came to fruition, They excluded villagers from most events at the pub and once they lost the support of the locals they were on a hiding to nothing. Hours of film were taken of the village and villagers for the TV programme most of which was never seen. Some people in the programme have never been seen at any time in the village. The heart has been ripped out of this village by the closure of this pub and all for a publicity stunt. Avery sad result for this village.

I think you'll find these guys didn't have any financial help from TV company and having seen the goings on in the village I would say the TV side was a hindrance rather than a help in some respects. They expected impossible deadlines for renovation and opening which cost the celeb pair a lot more of their own money that it would have if realistic deadlines had been set. The contractors saw they were on to a good thing and charged through the nose. Yes I do know what I'm taking about Ive been renovating places for over 20 years and saw some of the contractors bill which were excessive to say the least. Actors and Chefs don't have a lot of insight into building costs. They didn't have to pay I hear you say but with the TV schedule set and no help financially from the TV Company they were in a lose lose situation which I guess put them well on the back foot from the start. They just never caught up. I guess this meant them going back to the money paying "day jobs" to keep things ticking over for as long as they did. Shame! the pub looked really nice, had great potential and initially fantastic food and ales. Could have been such a different story!

My wife and I worked very hard at building up a successful pub business for 3 years and then all the rules changed and the fourth year we worked just as hard to watch our money disappear. These 2 have tried the dream and seen the harsh reality faced by the vast majority of mere mortals in the licensed trade, I take my hat off to them for trying and at the same time applaud the publicity they have brought to the true story behind the pub trade versus the greedy brewery ties in conjunction with an anti-british-culture government !!!

Would this pub have lasted the 18 months if it hadnt been for the exposure Mr Fox and Mr Morrissey gave it with their contacts in the celebrity world and the media coverage. This is not an industry that can be played with like a toy, it takes dedication, 80 hour weeks, hard graft and belief. If other landlords failed they would have lost everything and would have had nowhere else to turn. Mr Fox and Mr Morrissey are very lucky in that respect.

I don't like to see any pub fail regardless of who runs it but a successfull pub in a village must listen to the people who drink there its all about customers and that is the bottom line. I feel sad for the staff that actually ran the pub they must be gutted 18 months down the line.

know the pub and customers reasonably well ,the pub was a right dump before they took it over they did a great job,food beer and service all were excellent. Really hope they get a free-hold soon

I'm none too sure about the 'venom' posted comment. Personally I have seen like the Hotel program about a hotel in Luton opening. I looked in amazement as a property developer and barrister considered they would convvert and open a 68 bed hotel with no experience whatsoever. Okay hyped for TV it shows that invariably people with hoardes of cash look at the licensed industry as easy money making ventures. So OTOH be an ordinary person and apply for a public house position with any of the large pubco's and find they train you after a gruelling interview and assesment process. You see money talks and it's quite obvious that if you have the cash and little or no experience there's always a management company who will twist demographics in your favour. Be just ordinary and you find the goings tough no matter who you are. Michael

Can't understand the venom that has been written in these comments. Are celebs not allowd to try their hand at other ventures? I think it's sad another pub has closed, regardless of who the landlords were. Lets hope all the bitter, bitter swilling landlords, don't suffer the same fate.

It's sad that yet another pub has been closed. But I'm sure the owners wont have to face the financial struggle that most publicans have to deal with when they loose their pubs. It is not just the responsibility of the publican to keep things running it is also the responsibility of the suppliers to ensure they give good prices and help the publican wherever possible. One such supplier ACS Barware are doing this, they offer great prices and bend over backwards to assist the publicans wherever possible. It is about time the Suppliers, Publicans and Managed Estate work together as a team with one goal, To keep the pub industry alive!!!!!!

The only sense in this is that they are now looking at freehouses, something that should have been done right from the start - no matter who was in control of the start-up.

Its a shame to see any business these days close especially pubs in the community. The Punchbowl is a locals pub and unfortunately the new owners put the noses out of the locals at a very early stage. These are your bread and butter and alot of the Gastropubs seems to forget this.

I think we would all have some sympathy, if these two hadn't been so derogatory about the trade and the people in whilst they were making the series. you have to remember that they probably made a sizeable amount from the TV production to cover their investment.

plenty of idiots round the corner who will take it on to prove that they can do a better job just ask the Pub Co the phones dont stop ringing with them yes I know it hard to belive

I think the comments so far have been a little harsh to say the least. Anyone who puts money time and effort into the pub trade at present deseves a medal. Having sold my pubs in 1997 i was fortunate to get out before the tragedy that has unfolded since.I now trade as a hotelier and over that period have seen our average bar takings drop by 50%. Just try and remember back to when you took on your first pub and all the dreams you had. The shock and reality soon takes the shine off it, and these two are no differant. So come on all you publicans show a bit of sympathy. Colin Shingler

Many fail to remember that "the pub" was designed to be operated by a hands on couple, you remember , a man & wife team, with "wifie" in the kitchen and the old man looking after the ale.Pubs run as a business in this manner still flourish and will survive, they have for over 1000 years and will for another 1000. I feel sorry for Fox & Morrissey, don't like to see failures , but lads, it was doomed such from the beginnings. You gotta keep your eye on the ball is the lesson I guess.

This coming from the guy who arranged a meeting to ask the locals what they wanted... and then ignored them. Hopefully we won't have to see their face all over charity beers 'they' have brewed. These guys could have worked wonders for pubs PR at this difficult time, but instead...

Not surprised in the slightest. I remember this pub back in the 70s. A great pub, very busy and it's where I first met Old Peculier - happy days! Went back recently to test the hype. Very average atmosphere and disappointly average food offering. No sign of the celebs of course because but then the show is over - now in more ways than one.

The services of a professional stocktaker, would have probably highlighted the impending problems, far before they got into this mess...Always employ a good stocktaker

I wonder how much time he actually spent at the pub "he ran" ? And I wonder if "his beers" will go from strength to strength ? Who actually brews them ? I'm sure that he has very little to do with it. At the end of the day he was just a "Name", just an exercise in Marketting. He was never a Landlord, never a Publican. I wonder how many 16 hour days he put in ? I bet you could add them up on the fingers of one foot ! I agree with the previous comment: It couldn't have happened to a nicer fella !

ha ha ha ha ha. Not as easy as it looks for there side of the BAR.

This seems to have happened alot - celebrities launch venues with lots of PR splash - then have to go back to TV and without the attention to detail the businesses seem to crash! Once customers make a visit and don't see their celebrity behind the bar the shine seems to disapear. The ones that work that are famous because of the high standards of the operation - People go to Gordon Ramsey restuarants because of reputation and expectation of a quality experience - if they see Gordon then its a bonus!

I remember watching the programme and distinctly recall Neil Morrisey commenting on all the pub closures at the time and saying somnething along the lines of "if you can't run a pub and make a profit you must be thick" or words to that effect.

Welcome to the real world. Just because you are a pair of 'celebrities' what on earth made you think you had the wherewithall to run a pub? Not as easy as it looks is it? Maybe if you had spent less time promoting your ale and more time working within your pub and with your trade suppliers instead of considering yourself superior to both you wouldn't be in this mess.

another one who signed an agreemant re rent then when the going gets tough they whine about the deal that they have just signed, Grow up smell the coffee. It is about time that celebs take our industry seriously.

After his comments on the programme this could not have happened to a better person and basically he has not got a clue about the trade and thought his celebrity status would get him through