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State of shut tourist attraction pub a 'travesty'

Ellen KnightBBC Radio Shropshire
News imageBBC Josh (left) and Tim (right) pictured outside the pub. Josh is wearing a black sports tshirt and Tim is wearing a yellow polo shirt. Josh has his hands behind his back and Tim has his arms folded - they both wear serious expressions. The pub behind them has peeling, cracked white plaster on the outside, and the first three letters have fallen off the sign, so it just reads 'E TUNS INN.'BBC
Mayor Josh Dickin and town councillor Tim Halford fear the impact on tourism

Disrepair at a tourist attraction pub has been branded an "embarrassment" one week on from its closure.

The Three Tuns Inn in Bishop's Castle, Shropshire, shut its doors on 11 July due to "unforeseen circumstances", owner Heineken Star Pubs said.

It sits next to the Three Tuns Brewery, established in 1642 and believed to be the oldest licensed brewing site in Britain. But while there has been no direct link between the pair for 20 years, the pub still draws the attention of visitors fascinated by the industrial history next door.

Now, though, those tourists can no longer get a pint - an issue which could dent the wider local economy, some observers fear.

Town councillor Tim Halford said the pub was the "biggest tourism attraction in this town", but was now "an embarrassment and a travesty".

"There's plaster falling off the walls, you can't read the name - it is looking decrepit, it is sad, it is tired," he stated, adding the Bishop's Castle community would fight for the pub to re-open.

"We will not let this happen - it is very sad," he said.

Heineken Star Pubs said it wanted "to reopen the pub as soon as possible", adding it was "looking to recruit a new licensee".

As well as a brewing legacy, the venue boasts a long list of famous patrons, including Rod Stewart and Robert Plant, and bears a blue plaque remembering customer Jerry Lordan - a songwriter for stars including Cliff Richard.

News imageIn the foreground is the front wall of the Three Tuns Inn - the white plaster is cracked and peeling off, and the sign is falling apart, so it just reads 'E TUN' in dark red lettering. Ivy is growing up part of the wall. In the background, the Three Tuns Brewery can be seen with its name painted on the red brick building in white lettering.
The Three Tuns Inn is just next door to the brewery - but they have different owners

The town's mayor Josh Dickin is concerned there will be an impact on tourism as the summer holidays begin.

"We will see a knock-on effect, because people are coming here and they're very disappointed [by the pub]," he said.

"I fear that those tourists may never come back - without the Three Tuns that's now unfortunately shut, and before wasn't firing on all cylinders, it's detrimental to our tourist economy."

News imageA blue plaque on a whitewashed wall. The plaque has white text reading "BBC Music Day" at the top, and then underneath it reads "Jeremiah Patrick 'Jerry' Lordan', songwriter 1934-1995. He wrote Apache and many other hits for The Shadows, Cliff Richard, Jet Harris, and Tony Meehan - and spent many happy times at The Three Tuns Inn." Beneath that text it reads "Awarded by BBC Radio Shropshire."
The pub has a blue plaque celebrating the life of famous patron Jerry Lordan

As well as a place for a drink, the Three Tuns Inn plays an important role in the town's culture.

Morris dancers and singers Trevor and Kay Hedges said they were "very sad" about the pub's closure.

"It's the centre of the community," said Mrs Hedges, adding that her morris side practices there every single week.

"Without the Three Tuns, there's nowhere quite the same," she said.

News imageTrevor pictured looking into the camera with folded arms and a serious expression. He's wearing a bright pink polo shirt and a black wristwatch. He's stood on a pavement outside a shopfront that's painted orange.
Morris dancer Trevor Hedges said the situation was very sad

Mr Hedges recalled that 45 years ago on his "very first night in Shropshire" he was taken to a concert at the venue.

"I've been to concerts there, I've played at concerts there, we dance there every week - it's very sad," he explained.

News imagePhotograph taken low down of peeling white paint on the outside of the Three Tuns Inn. To the left of the photo, the street stretches off into the distance. The peeling paint and plaster reveals concrete and bricks underneath the top layer.
A town councillor has described the appearance of the pub as an "embarrassment" and a "travesty"

A spokesperson for Heineken Star Pubs said that "due to unforeseen circumstances the previous temporary operator has had to close The Three Tuns".

They added that the company wanted to re-open the pub "as soon as possible" and were "looking to recruit a new licensee", and were "very keen to undertake a major transformational internal and external refurbishment of The Three Tuns once a suitable candidate has been identified to take the pub forward".

Three Tuns Brewery told BBC Radio Shropshire that "like many in the community, we're saddened to see [the pub] close and remain hopeful it will re-open under new stewardship that reflects its heritage and potential".

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