The Anchor Inn in the centre of Swanage has shut its doors indefinitely as a consequence of the financial cost of the pandemic to its business and rising energy costs.
The Grade II listed pub was taken over by new management at the end of 2019 but only a few months after opening it had to close down due to Covid restrictions in March 2020.
The Anchor Inn in the High Street opposite Lloyds Bank which has also closed
Extensively refurbished
The pub in the High Street, which is believed to date back to the 17th Century, was extensively refurbished and all set to become a popular haunt for visitors and locals.
However the timing couldn’t have been worse for a new business, spending most of 2020 and much of 2021 closed or restricted.
Just as it thought the worst was over, in 2023 its electricity bill rose from £12,000 annually to an unsustainable £80,000.
The outside of the pub was renovated in July 2020, following the internal refurbishment in 2019
“Extremely upsetting and unfortunate news”
Posting on social media the management said:
“We at The Anchor have some extremely upsetting and unfortunate news to share. Sadly with the economy as it is and with opening a new business just as Covid hit we have been struggling to keep our doors open – as i’m sure many other small businesses in Swanage are feeling the pressures.
“It has come to the point that we are no longer able to continue absorbing the financial difficulties and we will be closing our doors indefinitely from Monday 19th of December.
“Firstly we would like to say a huge thank you to all the continued support and love from all our customers over the past three years. It has been an experience we will never forget and something we are truly gutted to be ending.
“A massive thank you to all our staff, who have been with us and supported us within the last three years.
Apologies to all reservations that are due will be visiting us. All will be contacted individually with the information.”
The newly refurbished interior of the Anchor Inn
“Our electricity bill alone going from £12,000 annually to £80,000”
Although the likelihood of any future Covid restrictions is unlikely and people have started going out again, the 400 year old Anchor Inn has now been hit with a new crisis. The statement continued:
“The never ending rise to the cost of living, which is impacting so many families, has also sadly impacted on businesses, with our electricity bill alone going from £12,000 annually to £80,000. It’s no wonder businesses are having no other option but to close.”
