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From the
https://www.newsshopper.co.uk By Conor Shields, 23rd April 2019.
The Woodman Pub will close for good on May 25.
A popular Dartford boozer is to shut up shop next month as the
owners say overbearing financial issues have become too bad for it
to continue trading.
In an emotional statement posted on Facebook, owner of the The
Woodman Pub, Toni Gilham, announced that their doors will close for
good on May 25, much to the dismay of their loyal customers.
In her post, she explained that the pub "has never made a profit"
and that the last two years have been extremely difficult
"financially, physically and emotionally" as the pub continued to
lose money week after week.
The pub, known as The Woodie, was initially bought by Mrs Gilham and
her husband Rob back in June of 2014 as they hoped to start their
own successful family business.
However, almost a week after moving into the pub, Rob was tragically
diagnosed with a terminal illness and later passed away the
following September.
"We lost Rob very early on," said Ms Gilham.
"A week after we moved in he was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney
cancer.
"We were together for more than 20 years and I've never seen him
take more than three days off sick, he was such a hard worker and
rarely ill.
"It was supposed to be a family thing," she continued.
Speaking to News Shopper, a brave Mrs Gilham said that her desire to
keep the pub trucking along was fuelled solely by naysayers who
questioned her abilities following her husband's tragic death.
"People would say, 'what are you going to do now that Rob's gone?',
and I think a stubborn side of me just kept saying, 'watch me'," she
said.
However, as time went on it became clear that not enough money was
coming over the bar to fund the business for the foreseeable future.
"It was our local, we had been drinking on and off there for about
20 years and we thought we knew the business," she added.
"We invested every penny that we had and had given up any possible
holidays and our social lives as well.
"But after the third year, people just weren't spending enough
money."
During the harder times, Mrs Gilham's son Jake had even given up his
old flat to come home and help his mum with the day to day
operations at the pub.
However, looking back at her five years with the pub, Mrs Gilham
said that beyond the financial woes, she retains fond memories the
many enjoyable nights behind the bar.
"Without a doubt, we can say we did it. We tried our best but
sometimes you just need to know when to walk away.
"We’ve made good friends and met some lovely people and we were
getting praise, but praise doesn’t pay the bills.
"Everything we’ve done in the last four and a half years has been
for the customers," she said.
The Woodman Pub will be throwing one final bash on Saturday, May 25
with half price drinks and a live band playing the hits. |
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