Popular rock music pub in West Midlands closes suddenly as hundreds sign petition
Ye Olde Foundry in Dudley shut its doors last week, with many locals left gutted by the popular venue’s closure
One of the most popular live music venues in the Black Country has been forced to shut due to rising costs.
According to the Express and Star, Ye Olde Foundry on King Street was ordered to close by the Stonegate Pub Company after the licensee was 'fined' £40,000 for buying drinks from an independent wholesaler.
The report said Mr Hall lambasted the pub company, saying the terms it imposed made the pub impossible to run, charging £64 for a bottle of whisky that cost £19 in the supermarket.
A petition has now been launched, calling for the venue to be reopened, with almost 1,500 people have signed it so far.
The pub is famous for its rock music nights, and was taken over by Mr Hall in September 2023. "As soon as I signed the five-year lease, the rent skyrocketed and the purchase prices went through the roof," he said.
"For example, a bottle of Jack Daniel's from Tesco is £19, from Stonegate direct, it is £64,” he added. "In our third year, we had to start buying stock from wholesalers just to keep costs down and keep trading, solely due to the rising cost of bills."
Mr Hall said Stonegate 'fined' the pub £40,000 for buying outside stock. "We have gone back and forth with solicitors regarding price fixing, but to no avail, and I have now run out of time," said Mr Hall.
A PR manager for Stonegate said: "Due to ongoing legal proceedings, it would not be appropriate to comment further on the specific circumstances,” she said.