14 February 2025 , 07:42
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One of Britain’s oldest watering holes will shut its doors for the final time after 570 years of serving pints due to ‘financial challenges’.
The Abbot’s Fireside, near Canterbury, was first established as ‘Smithies’ Arms in 1451 when Henry VIII ruled the United Kingdom. But a listing for the historic site will soon go live.
The pub’s landlords wrote: ‘Like many beloved pubs across the country, we’ve faced increasing financial challenges that have made it difficult to continue operating.
‘While this marks the end of an era for us, we are incredibly grateful for the memories we’ve shared and the wonderful community we’ve been privileged to be a part of.
‘From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who has supported The Abbots Fireside during our time here. Your loyalty and friendship have meant the world to us.’
The stunning historic pub has features from the 15th and 16th centuries, with a Stuart mantelpiece still reading ‘The Smithers Arms’.
Interior details of the pub are detailed and date back to the 1600s (Picture: Facebook)
It’s rumoured to have a tunnel running from the pub’s cellar to the nearby village church and is even rumoured to have a secret hole in the fireplace sed by King Charles II to hide from the Roundheads.
There are also ties to war – British and American troops reportedly enjoyed tipples at the establishment before heading to D-Day.
The Duke of Wellington was also in the area before heading off to the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
It’s the latest boozer to close after the number of pubs in the country fell significantly in the last decade – from 41,015 operating in 2013 to 38,175 with their doors open in 2023.
Covid-19 had a detrimental effect on local businesses which will have contributed to the plummeting number of British boozers.
But with the routine closures of stores and bank branches too, the British high street could become a barren place in years to come.
Locals have mourned the loss of their local boozer (Picture: Facebook)
Research by Togather has estimated that around 6.92% of pubs close every year in the UK. If that rate of closure continues, pubgoers in 50 years may find a cold pint a lot more difficult to come by.
In 2023 alone, 769 pub businesses became insolvent, up from the 518 that closed for good in 2022.