Major pub chain with 2,700 venues closes fan favourite location – as punters are ‘gutted’ rumours were true

A PUB chain with almost 2,700 UK boozers has announced plans to close one of its branches – leaving punters gutted.

The Golden Hind, in Offerton, run by Greene King, is gearing up to pull down its shutters for the final time.

Last week rumours spread online that the the pub would be closing down – and now the chain has confirmed it will shut its door in the coming weeks. 

Shocked residents have now put a sign outside the boozer – and started a petition to try and save it.

The sign reads: “Save The Golden Hind from closure. It’s not just a pub, it’s our community hub. 

“Contact Greene King web page ‘contact us’. Thank you Offerton.”

A spokesperson for Greene King said: “Closing a pub is never an easy decision, so it is with great regret that we have begun a formal consultation with the team at the Golden Hind. 

“Our focus is on finding alternative roles for our team members at our other pubs in Stockport and the pub will remain open and trading as usual over the coming weeks before we confirm a closing date in due course.”

It comes as a number of UK pubs have closed their doors for good amid a turbulent economic backdrop.

Inflation remains stubbornly high meaning households have less expendable cash to burn.

Increased energy and wage costs are piling further pressure on businesses.

Earlier this month, Wetherspoon’s boss Tim Martin said the business “continues to perform well”.

But the chain has closed 34 pubs in the last 18 months and has also put 27 more up for sale in the last year – 10 of which are under offer.

Stonegate, the group which runs Yate’s and Slug and Lettuce pubs, has also sparked fury by hiking the price of drinks from 5pm to 7pm to offset rising operational costs.

The “dynamic pricing” strategy has seen some punters charged £7.60 instead of £7.05 at peak times.

Retailers on the high street have been hit hard too.

Cath Kidston, Paperchase, M&Co and popular discounter Wilko have all crashed into administration this year.

Wilko has since announced plans to return to the high street, with branches in Plymouth, Exeter and Luton set to open within weeks.

On Monday, Paperchase reopened inside 250 Tesco supermarkets in June M&Co relaunched online.

A number of retailers have been opening branches as well as closing them too.

In July, B&M announced plans to open seven new branches in the UK over the following weeks.