THE man behind a petition to try save the Bears Head says the pub is part of the very social fabric of the town.
Nick Simmons has more than 1,000 signatures on his online petition titled ‘Prevent the Closure of Wetherspoons The Bears Head Pub in Penarth.’
The petition has been sent to the bosses at Wetherspoons for consideration.
Mr Simmons emphasised the importance of the pub to the town, with rumours the pub could shut its doors as soon as June after Wetherspoons told Penarth Times on at the end of March they had activated a break clause on the lease of the property the Bears Head is situated in.
Rumours are swirling round the town stronger than the gusts of Storm Kathleen that the reason for the abrupt departure of one of Penarth’s most popular pubs could be a breakdown in rent rate negotiations.
However, this is all conjecture. What Penarth Times can report is the feelings of one of the Bears’ locals about the pub and its importance to the town.
“I have grown up in Penarth and see the Bears as an important part of the town,” said Mr Simmons.
“People young and old go there being central in the town. It’s a big part of the community and the social fabric of Penarth.”
Wetherspoon’s has refused to comment any further on why it is closing the Bears Head, however the company has gone through a raft of pub closures while announcing record profits.
There have been a number of closures in the hospitality sector in Wales in recent months, with speculation that a reduction in business rates relief for the industry could be having an impact.
Despite business rates relief – introduce during Covid - being cut, the WG has always insisted they offer a “generous system” of rates and relief.
A spokesperson for the Welsh Labour government previously told Penarth Times: “We are providing a package of rates support worth £134 million on top of our permanent relief schemes, which are worth £250 million a year.
“Thanks to our generous system of full reliefs, almost half of ratepayers, including thousands of small businesses across Wales, do not pay rates at all."
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Where are we at with the closure of Wetherspoon’s pub Bears Head in Penarth?
The last statement Wetherspoon’s gave Penarth Times went: “The Bear’s Head in Penarth will close.
“Wetherspoon has served a break notice on the lease.
“There is no set date on when the pub will close and it will continue to operate as a Wetherspoon pub until its closure date.
“There will be no redundancies – all staff will be offered jobs at other Wetherspoon pubs.”
Local Senedd member and first minister leader Vaughan Gething has been contacted on the closure of the pub.
Mr Simmons' petition can be found at change.org and is titled: Prevent the Closure of Wetherspoons The Bears Head Pub in Penarth! Click, here.
What do you think about this announcement? Are you a Bear’s Head regular? Gutted by the news? How will this affect Penarth? Are you, or do you know a staff member affected by this? Message for the staff? Email harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk.
Story in Penarth? Email harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk.
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