Landlord at The Hapton Inn pub in Burnley quits over 'soaring' costs of food and energy
Lee Wright, who breathed new life into the Hapton Inn, says rising costs of food and energy have made it impossible to continue as landlord, with his utility bill increasing from £3,400 to £7,400 a month.
A pub landlord, who breathed new life into a long established pub after it was saved from closure, says soaring costs of food and energy have forced him to call time.
And it was an email to say his utility bill would increase from £3,400 a month to £7,400 was the final nail in the coffin for Lee Wright who decided it was time to his quit his role as landlord at the The Hapton Inn.
He said: “Hospitality is not just about making money, it’s about the lifestyle for those of us that do it because we love it.
“I absolutely love what I do but the amount of work that goes into running a successful venue is now being overshadowed by the lack of reward.. in short it’s just not worth the graft anymore.
“I have loved my time at the Hapton Inn but I have to think about my future and that of my family.”
Lee (53) took over the reins of the pub in 2024 and brought with him a decade of experience in the licensed trade. Running the venue with his partner Becky Hudson, Burnley born Lee discovered his talent for cooking later in life so he took a catering course at Blackburn College.
Home cooked meals became the signature of the pub but the rising cost of food was another factor for Lee deciding to call time.
He added: “Food costs have increased phenomenally with beef alone up almost 50 per cent. “The cost of three kilos of diced beef has risen from £20 to £35.
“But I have kept prices reasonable for the customer as I am aware this is not the richest area in Lancashire. I could have charged Ribble Valley prices for a steak pie but we wouldn’t have had any customers.”
In a bid to keep costs down Lee started to grow his own vegetables but with only one polytunnel, it hardly touched the sides, he said.
Business rates,currently at £1K a year, are also set to increase incrementally over the next four years. And Lee faced a £4K rise in his monthly staff wage bill over the last 18 months.
Lee said: “Hospitality is facing its toughest time ever in my opinion and we need people to support us more than ever before.”
Lee thanked pub owner Frank Owen for his support over the past two years, adding: “The rent has always been reasonable, it was never an issue.
“I want to also thank everyone who has supported us, I am sad to leave but I have to secure a future for myself.”
Mr Owen bought the Hapton Inn in 2020 and essentially saved it from being converted into a house. Long seen as a community asset for villagers and people from the surrounding areas of Burnley and Accrington, villagers rallied to lobby Hapton Parish Council and Burnley Borough Council to grant an Asset of Community Value on the building.
Lee will now take over the franchise for catering at Burnley Golf Club, a sector of hospitality he has many years of experience in.