The Crown Inn Bar and Restaurant in The Parade is closed and is to let after the current licensees decided not to renew their lease.
Marlborough News Online understands they were asked to pay substantially more to renew the lease.
The Crown Inn which has been specialising in a fish menu, is owned by the Solihull-based company Enterprise Inns which owns about 5,500 pubs.
Enterprise Inns says it uses a different method of leasing pubs: “Our model makes a pub business more accessible than the purchase of a freehold, while providing the same feelings of ownership, autonomy and pride that come with building your own success.”
Commenting on the change of regime at The Crown, an Enterprise Inns spokesperson told Marlborough News Online: “Unfortunately the current publicans have decided not to renew their lease at The Crown.”
“We are currently in discussion with several experienced publicans who are interested in this fantastic business opportunity and we hope to reach an agreement very soon. This will enable The Crown to continue to trade at the heart of the local community in Marlborough.”
Marlborough News Online understands that the owner of another bar and restaurant in the town is interested in taking over The Crown.
Another change to the town’s food and drink trade will come when Mr and Mrs Cole sell their well-known Coles Restaurant in Kingsbury Street. They have run Coles since 1997.
The 95 cover restaurant has an annual turnover that is consistently over £500,000. Hospitality and Catering news says the freehold is on the market for £1.1 million.