In a swift turn of events, a dispute over footwear at The Farmers pub in Ormesby culminated in the termination of its new landlords, Colin Swindlehurst and Tracy Jones, just two weeks after they took over. The controversy began when local farmer Tom Bane visited the pub, located in a community known for its agricultural ties, after a day of work in muddy conditions.

Bane, accompanied by friend Harry Daisley, an ex-landlord of the establishment, faced a reprimand from Swindlehurst, who reportedly asked him to remove his muddy boots upon entry. “I said ‘would you mind taking your boots off, mate? Come on, the carpet is full of dirt’,” Swindlehurst recounted. However, Bane’s impression of the interaction was markedly different. He alleged that the couple’s remarks were laced with profanity and hostility, stating, “the exact words were to me: ‘You can get on your f*g hands and knees and scrub my carpets you bloody booted c*s.’”

Daisley corroborated Bane’s accounts, asserting that the couple displayed rude behaviour, which he found unprofessional, especially given the pub’s clientele often included local farmers returning from work. He noted that during his own tenure at the pub, patrons were welcomed regardless of their muddy attire.

Following the incident, Bane reported hearing unfounded allegations implicating Jones in a serious incident involving a shotgun behind the bar. Despite the gravity of these accusations, neither police action nor arrests transpired, leading Bane to regard the claims as mere gossip. “If no arrests have been made, there would not have been an illegal gun on site,” Bane said, conceding that he believed the accusations were exaggerated.

Business operations at the pub had initially adhered to protocols from Swindlehurst and Jones’s previous establishment in Devon, where they had gained favour with locals by implementing systems like lockers for muddy footwear. This feature was proposed but never realised before their abrupt departure.

Additional aspects contributing to the controversy included a sign displayed above the bar deemed inappropriate by some villagers, which featured a lewd number plate. Swindlehurst’s ideas for the establishment, such as introducing potbellied pigs to the garden and themed karaoke nights tailored for older patrons, reportedly did not resonate well with the community’s traditional values or expectations.

After a confrontation with a Stonegate pub manager, who was sent to investigate the situation, both Swindlehurst and Jones found their management contract terminated. In their exit, Swindlehurst remarked, “We might have been a bit forward. We’re northern.”

Following the couple’s departure, the pub, which underwent a £150,000 renovation in 2021, was officially rebranded from The Jolly Farmers to The Farmers, though many locals continue to refer to it by its former name. Since then, it has experienced a series of management changes, with three sets of landlords stepping in over the course of a year, alongside prolonged periods of closure.

Currently, the future of The Farmers remains uncertain as Stonegate is seeking potential new landlords. The pub, advertised with a rental rate of just over £800 per week, is forecasted to generate an annual turnover of around £620,000. A community group advocating for the pub’s importance has successfully campaigned to have it recognised as an Asset of Community Value, though a reopening date remains unclear.

Source: Noah Wire Services