Next move for couple leaving village pub on the edge of the Peak District they have run for 12 years

Dave and Lorraine Mountford will be leaving The Boat Inn, Cromford on September 23 after 12 years.

They plan to focus their efforts on running The Jug & Glass at Lea which is owned by former Derby County footballer Jake Buxton and which they have also managed since spring 2024.

Dave said: "We're staying at The Jug & Glass for the foreseeable future – helping get the pub stabilised for the community. It's taken off, it's very busy and very successful in terms of how the community has welcomed it."

Nicola and Dave Briggs from The Greyhound in Cromford will take up the reins of The Boat Inn.

The Mountfords took on The Boat Inn in April 2012 after the pub had been closed on and off for five years. Dave said: "It went from strength to strength. it became like a hub and the centre of the village.

"We know people have come into Cromford because of The Boat Inn. We've seen a lot of businesses such as air b 'n' bs flourish because there is a local pub that they consider to be well run."

However, the pandemic was catastrophic for the hospitality trade and publicans across the country are still reeling from the effects.

Dave said: "Since Covid we've made no money in spite of The Boat Inn being perceived as one of the busiest pubs in the area. We have run the pub for nothing simply to pay off the bounceback loan which we were forced to take on.

"The increase in the living wage cost us £32,000 this year - that can only go into charges for customers, which ultimately is unsustainable.

"Governments have taxed and red-taped this industry to death. I have very little faith in the current Government doing a great deal different.”

Dave, a long-standing campaigner, said: "Because of my relatively high profile at the time, I actually got to brief Sunak during Covid, but to no avail unfortunately.”