THE OWNER of a Knutsford pub has announced its closure this week following a long battle with the landlords over leasing.

Silk Mill Street’s ‘The Folly’ has closed permanently after owner, Matthew Mooney, refused to renew the lease with Enterprise Inns.

The family pub, formerly The Freemason Arms, was temporarily shut at the end of July for maintenance work, just a couple of weeks before the closure announcement was made over Facebook.

Matthew said: “It’s been 12 months and the landlords have still not come up with anything that’s remotely sensible.

“We have declined to take on the lease which is a shame but all the staff are being transferred to the Rose and Crown.

“It is a shame that the large breweries that own these pubs are so reluctant to offer what is a reasonable lease, they are still insisting on a tied lease.

The businessman explained that he was paying large amounts of money out to purchase alcohol from Enterprise, and that he made several failed attempts to negotiate a lower rate for the next year.

“You can only try for so long,” he said. “We loved the building and The Folly. It is frustrating but it is an all too familiar story when dealing with breweries.

“I wouldn’t take on another lease with a brewery again. It was against my better judgement this time because The Folly was the first pub I had a drink in in Knutsford.

“There was a chunk of emotion in getting it to reopen again. However, you can only do so much.

"The customers have been incredibly supportive and understanding. We have had many many texts saying ‘sorry for how it worked out’ and ‘I’ll see you at the Rose and Crown.”

Matthew, who also owns the Rose and Crown and popular wedding venue Belle Epoque, is planning to continue with his thriving businesses with no plans to open a new pub.

“We have got a lot of business to do, there’s so much on with the Rose and Crown and the Belle Epoque that we are busy as it is.

“It is business as usual for us, but if you know anyone who wants to buy a stag’s head we have got one spare.

“It is a very positive situation it’s just a shame that the brewery would rather see the pub empty than offer a fair lease.

“Onwards and upwards. It was a nice diversion but that’s the way it goes.”