Winchester pub selling off its alcohol today after shutting

The Willow Tree on Durngate shut recently, a victim of soaring energy bills and the cost of living crisis.

Today former landlord Connor Godwin was at the pub selling off the last stock with discounts of up to two-thirds.

Most of the spirits have gone but there is a table full of mainly whites and rose that are available. Normally they would sell in the pub for £16-30 but most are going for less than £10 and several for £5-7.50.

Connor said: "It's sad to close but we had no choice. We were really struggling the last couple of months. We just didn't see the point in carrying on. The industry is dead. I don't see any pubs lasting apart from the big chains."

Connor and his husband Alex took over the pub in autumn 2021 and have seen their energy bills rocket to £55-60,000 a year.

When they started they inherited debts of £40,000 and had reduced them to £10,000 before the impact of the cost of living crisis and rising costs. "We brought the debts down. If we didn't have the remaining debt the rise in energy may not have affected us too badly. But now the cost of living people cannot afford to go out."

Connor and Alex, both 26, are moving to Southsea with Connor working in a school and Alex to become an apprentice nursery nurse. Proceeds from the sale today will help go towards the deposit on a flat.

Connor posted on social media this morning:

"Still available:

Gin:

Beachcomber

Apostles

Prosecco x1 bottle

White Wine:

Chablis x7

Riesling x3

Grenache x3

South African Sauvignon Blanc x2

Pinot Grigio x1

Australian Sauvignon Blanc x2

Rose Wine

Cinsault x11

Hambledon Rose Cuvée x1

Cotes de rhone Rose x2

Rose malbec x7

St Tropez x2

Grenache x4

Red Wine

Malbec x7

Grenache x1

Franschooek Affinity x2

Cotes de rhone x7

"All must go by tomorrow morning! Accepting cash payments (can't give change) or bank transfers! All going cheap!"

The owners of the pub, Greene King, are looking for new tenants.