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CHIGWELL: Anger at historic pub's closure

12:30pm Monday 8th February 2010 in


REGULARS at the Bald Hind pub in Chigwell have reacted with dismay to news of its closure later this month.

Brewery chain Mitchells and Butlers said the venue, in Hainault Road, will be shutting down on Thursday February 25 because “it is no longer a viable business”.

But angry drinkers claim that the chain has deliberately run the pub down because it will be cheaper to sell it off than carry out the extensive repairs and renovations its historic building needs, a claim the firm strongly denies.

Stewart Alexander, 54, of Linkside, has been going to the Bald Hind on a daily basis for the past 30 years.

He said: “I'm very disappointed, but it's clear they've been letting it fall to pieces on purpose for some years now.

“To do the property up would cost them a fortune, and it's obvious that they don't want to invest in it.”

Dennis Briggs, 57, of View Close, said: “This is a sad day for Chigwell.

"The brewery have a stranglehold on the area and own all the nearest pubs, and it seems like the Bald Hind just isn't that important to them.

“The pub has been left to become dilapidated. The toilets keep breaking and there's leaks in the roof.

“It's such an iconic building and landmark, but they seem more concerned with maximising their profits to the detriment of the local community.”

Glen Buckingham, 58, of Oak Lodge Avenue, agreed.

He said: “It's just ridiculous. There's nowhere else around here within easy walking distance for us now, and it would be a real shame if the building was demolished.”

A spokesman for Mitchells and Butlers refused to comment on rumours that a property developer had bought the pub.

But he did say: "We review our estate on a regular basis and the Bald Hind was identified for sale some two years ago as it is no longer a viable business for us to operate.

"A sale has now been agreed with a local company and our last day of trade is scheduled to be Wednesday 24 February.”

Comments(5)

larry g says...
1:27pm Mon 8 Feb 10

a nice new block of apartments on the horizon i believe

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simonwesker says...
2:29pm Mon 8 Feb 10

I fully understand it ceasing trading if there are not enough customers and it's not a viable business, the sad part would be if the actual building were demolished in the way we lost the Roebuck Hotel, the Bald Hind should have been made into a listed building to prevent this, I think it will not be so bad if it can be sold to a company who retain the structure and turn it into a nice restaurant or something but the WORST thing to happen would be to see it demolished and turned into another block of flats because if this does happen there should be a public investigation into why the council keeps granting these inappropriate planning approvals.

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larry g says...
5:56pm Mon 8 Feb 10

simonwesker wrote:
I fully understand it ceasing trading if there are not enough customers and it's not a viable business, the sad part would be if the actual building were demolished in the way we lost the Roebuck Hotel, the Bald Hind should have been made into a listed building to prevent this, I think it will not be so bad if it can be sold to a company who retain the structure and turn it into a nice restaurant or something but the WORST thing to happen would be to see it demolished and turned into another block of flats because if this does happen there should be a public investigation into why the council keeps granting these inappropriate planning approvals.
but 30 yards away, they demolished a public house to build montpelier house on.

its going to be apartments, or if we are lucky, revert back to a hotel as it was in the 50's/60's

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Morris Hickey says...
6:01pm Mon 8 Feb 10

larry g wrote:
simonwesker wrote: I fully understand it ceasing trading if there are not enough customers and it's not a viable business, the sad part would be if the actual building were demolished in the way we lost the Roebuck Hotel, the Bald Hind should have been made into a listed building to prevent this, I think it will not be so bad if it can be sold to a company who retain the structure and turn it into a nice restaurant or something but the WORST thing to happen would be to see it demolished and turned into another block of flats because if this does happen there should be a public investigation into why the council keeps granting these inappropriate planning approvals.
but 30 yards away, they demolished a public house to build montpelier house on. its going to be apartments, or if we are lucky, revert back to a hotel as it was in the 50's/60's
I posted earlieron this same subject. Councillors Knapman and Sandler need to be reminded that they are already on record commenting that the Manor Road/Grange Hill area already has too many flats. After that pronouncement the District Development Control Committee approved a whole load of them on the site of Jennikings Garden Centre. Left hand and right hand comes to mind.

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simonwesker says...
7:45pm Mon 8 Feb 10

If the Bald Hind is demolished and more flats are approved there needs to be an investigation.

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The Bald Hind pub in Hainault Road, Chigwell. The Bald Hind pub in Hainault Road, Chigwell.

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