Last Victorian pub on Grand Union faces closure

The Rising Sun in Berkhamsted, the last Victorian pub by the Grand Union Canal, faces closure.

All because of a complaint from one neighbour, Keith Gudgin reports.

New neighbour

This new neighbour moved into a house near the pub and immediately entered a complaint against the noise from people drinking at the tables outside.

The result is that Dacorum Borough Council is now considering to modify the pub's licence terms to prohibit customers from drinking by the canal towpath.

But landlord Mark Granger warns these changes could make his business unsustainable, particularly affecting crucial summer trade.

He discovered his establishment was under scrutiny after a resident moved in and formally complained to the council about noise from customers drinking outside. explaining that it felt like an orchestrated campaign to close my business, adding:

Helps through the winter

"I take a lot of money in the summer and that money helps me through the winter. To try and limit my summer trade to that extent makes the business unviable and the council must know that,"

Supporters have rallied behind pub with a crowdfunding campaign to help with potential legal costs. that has already gathered over £14,000 of its £40,000 target to cover solicitor and barrister fees.

The pub's current licence permits alcohol consumption both on and off the premises.