New Forest pub saves Christmas for bust butcher customers

The New Forest Butcher – situated on Lyndhurst High Street – stopped trading on December 13, due to high energy bills and lack of custom, leaving approximately 100 customers without their orders for festive meals.

A notice in the window stated: “We are so sorry we have had to close.

“Due to high rising energy bills and slow custom, we have had no alternative but to cease trading.

“We understand that some of our customers have ordered or paid for Christmas meat and unfortunately, we cannot honour our commitment to you.

“Your details will be passed to our liquidators who may contact you.”

The statement added: “The Stag Hotel have informed me that they can offer a meat hamper or choice of meat at wholesale price from their local butchers, if you would like to take them up on this opportunity, please pop in and see them.

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“Once again, we would like to sincerely apologise.”

Landlady of the Stag Hotel, Maria Harris, told local media of the butchers’ closure: “It’s not good, the place recently had the electricity cut off and has been run into the ground.

“We’ve asked our own butcher, and they are happy to offer meat at cost price, so people aren’t too out of pocket, it is really kind of them.”

She continued: “When I was a kid, my parents would save £10 per month so there wasn’t a big expense at Christmas and there are still people who work like that.

“It is about that community spirit, a pub is more than pulling a pint, it is about looking after the community.”

A customer who remained anonymous added: “We only know about the closure as it was on Facebook – we had no contact from them at all.

“It’s rather dishonest when they knew it was coming.”