A LANDMARK bar and restaurant near Taunton has warned closure is “a very real risk” after trade in the autumn and over Christmas proved “far below what we rely on”.
Steve and Tracey Elliott have operated The Chapel, at Cotford St Luke, since 2022, and in November last year opened The Chapel Tap, in Taunton town centre.
However, in a message to customers this week, they have warned a drop in trade over the winter has left them struggling to keep The Chapel open.
“We have built a great reputation, but we now need a significant increase in local support,” they said. “The reality is that without this, closure in the short term is a very real risk.
“Autumn and Christmas are normally what carry us through the winter. This year they didn’t. Trade was far below what we rely on, and we are now heading into the toughest months of the year in a very vulnerable position.
“Independent pubs across the UK are under increasing pressure, and The Chapel is no exception. Changes in customer habits, the reality of running a large historic building that’s costly to heat, and the impact of the recent Government budget – including further business rate increases due from April – are all being felt.
“The sums simply don’t work unless footfall rises.”
READ MORE: The Chapel Tap pub to open in Taunton with live music and more
They said they were reviewing opening hours, events, and “how we operate”.
“These aren’t cutbacks by choice. They are last-ditch attempts to reduce costs and keep the doors open long enough to see if things can turn around,” the owners said.
“Many in this village know what it feels like when The Chapel stands empty. A depressing sight – a dark, empty building at the centre of Cotford St Luke. None of us want to see that again, but that is the reality we are facing.
“We are sharing this now because if The Chapel matters to you, we need you. Not next month. Not in the spring. Now.
“Every pint, every coffee, every meal, every booking genuinely makes a difference at this stage.
“We are not giving up – but we cannot keep going without meaningful support from our customers and community.
“Thank you to everyone who continues to stand with us. We hope this isn’t the beginning of the end – but it could be, unless things change.”
READ MORE: Taunton news from your Somerset Leveller
The news comes after Somerset MP Ashley Fox (Conservative, Bridgwater) said the Government was putting pubs “under serious strain” following a visit to The Globe Inn, in North Petherton.
He said: “Pubs like the Globe Inn sit at the heart of our communities. They provide jobs, support the local economy and offer a place for people to come together.
“But many of our smaller pubs are under serious strain as rising costs continue to mount under this Labour government. It is important that they are not hit with additional burdens that push them closer to the edge.”
Bridgwater MP Sir Ashley Fox during a visit to the Globe Inn, in North Petherton
Well worth a visit…great for coffee, breakfast as well as for dinner & drinks…really good food, service & atmosphere, all set in a fantastic church!