Major pub owner with 4,800 boozers closes much-loved chain with blunt goodbye message
A MAJOR pub owner that operates 4,800 boozers has closed one of its much loved chains with a blunt goodbye message.
Bear and Bells in Beccles, Suffolk, announced on its website that it had shut, with owner the Stonegate Group saying it was looking to recruit a new publican to run the site.
Located in the heart of the market town, the tavern was much loved by residents before its closure.
A statement on Bear and Bells’ website says: “We are now closed.
“Thank you for your custom and hopefully see you again in the future.”
Reviews of the pub on Google Maps spoke highly of the venue, with many praising the tavern’s food options.
One reviewer said: “I could not fault anything, literally nothing.
“I urge you to visit this place.”
Another added: “Really good food – [the] hospitality is just outstanding.
“Such a lovely pub.”
The venue is owned by the Stonegate Group, Britain’s largest pub company.
Stonegate owns 4,432 sites across the UK under the Slug & Lettuce, Be at One, Sports Bar & Grill brands and 350 traditional style pubs under its “Proper pubs” banner.
A spokesman for Stonegate Group said: “The Bear and Bells is currently looking to recruit a new publican to run the popular pub.
“Situated at the heart of the Beccles community, we know how important the pub is to the local area, so we are working hard behind the scenes to recruit the right publican to serve the Beccles community for years to come.
“Those who are interested in this role can apply through the Stonegate Group Pub Partners’ website.”
The group was formed in November 2010 following following the acquisition of 333 pubs from Mitchell & Butlers, another pub chain.
After a string of acquisitions throughout the 2010s, and the purchase of the Ei Group for £1.27 billion in March 2020, Stonegate became the largest pub company in the UK.
However, it issued a warning in April of last year that it was struggling to plug debts in its finances, with £2.3 billion needing to be refinanced by July 2025.
This comes as popular bar chain, the Botanist, closed two sites this month.
The New World Trading Company, which runs the Botanist bars, shut its locations in Coventry and Sheffield this month, confirming the bars were not profitable.
Full list of pub chains owned by Stonegate
STONEGATE'S portfolio comprised of 1,289 sites within the managed division and 3,284 leased and tenanted businesses, as of April 2024.
The managed division includes a mix of branded and unbranded bars, pubs and venues.
Brands under Stonegate’s ownership:
- Slug and Lettuce
- Walkabout
- Be At One
- Popworld venues
- Fever venues
- Sports bar and grill
- Craft Union pub company
Stonegate also has partnerships with the following businesses:
- Frontier Pubs
- Bestplace
- Mash Inns
- Six Cheers
- Hust Heth Inns
- Old Spot
- Urban Pubs & Bars 2