Fife pub closes after no agreement on rent

The Cedar Inn closed its doors at the end of January after the proprietors informed customers through a public notice they had been unable to make a deal with the building’s new owners.

The popular pub was formerly owned by Punch Taverns but was one of 1,900 pubs sold to Dutch brewing company Heineken in August last year.

Under a transitional agreement Punch is still responsible for the Cedar until March and have marketed it for a rent of £56,854.

In a statement to customers, published on its Facebook page, the proprietors wrote: “It is with a heavy heart that we have decided to close our operation down.

“Unfortunately we originally entered the Cedar Inn with the assistance of Punch Taverns on the basis that the property was to be fully refurbished and we would have an up to date modern, state of the art premises.

“We agreed with the renovation and subsequent new rental agreement but Punch was then involved in a takeover from Heineken. We have endeavoured to work with them and agree the same rental agreement but unfortunately we have not succeded in doing so. Therefore, we have made the decision that we must leave.”

A Punch spokesman said: “The pub is being marketed on the Punch website with a commercial lease and rental figure based on the anticipated profit returns generated from a proposed investment spend at the venue of over £400,000. We are still recruiting for a new publican and hope to have the Cedar Inn open and trading at the earliest opportunity.”