Staff anger as pub landlords leave without paying wages

Tracy was concerned by lockdown, however she trusted the landlords of the Staff of Life in Sutton-in-Ashfield to look after their nine employees – so she was shocked when all communication stopped, and wages were left unpaid.

Tracy explains: “They stopped taking calls from everyone, and we haven’t received a penny since the end of March,

“We had a letter confirming our furlough agreement, but we’ve had no money.

“They told us they’d been refused furlough on May 1, but that they were appealing - next thing we know vans have turned up and all their stuff has gone.”

District councillor David Hennigan said of the West End venue: “This is a popular local pub – residents are shocked and saddened by this. I hope the owners can find somebody to take over who will look favourably at reemploying the affected staff.

“I can confirm that the landlords received a £25,000 business support grant from Ashfield District Council on April 20. This money was designed to help businesses survive in these challenging times.

“The problem we face is that the Government were unclear on the usage of this grant, so we have asked them to clarify urgently and inform us whether a crime has been committed.”

MP Lee Anderson also pledged support.

He said: “It is disappointing to see that nine of my constituents have not received their furlough payments.

“I have spoken with the brewery to ask for a goodwill payment as well as speaking with HMRC to see if any furlough payment was actually made to the landlord.

“My constituents deserve justice and I will keep pressing until they get what is owed".

A spokesperson from Stars Pubs & Bars said: “The Staff of Life is leased to an independent operator to run as their own business.

“We have been notified that they have left the pub but have been unable to make contact with them to clarify the situation.

“As an independent business they employ their own staff and are responsible for their remuneration.”

We have approached the landlords for comment.