Forum Topic

What about Connolly’s?

Hoping all is well, pub was closed this afternoon.

Will Griggs ● 432d17 Comments

The crunch point for Stonegate apparently comes in 2025 but in the meantime tenants and leaseholders are probably going to find themselves squeezed. This could be one factor behind Connolly's taking Christmas off.Stonegate apparently wants to offload a quarter of its estate but the question is - who would buy it? There are probably lots of pub closures ahead in 2024 as the total number they own is over 4,000 but I'd be surprised if the two Chiswick ones don't survive.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 405d

Going back to Connolly's - it is a Stonegate Pub and the private equity company that owns it and about 450 pubs in and around London, has recently been forced to refinance its debt. The GMB union has warned that increased costs might result in job losses and closures but I very much doubt Connolly's is at any risk. Other pubs owned by Stonegate include the Queen's Head on Sutton Lane and loads in Fulham and Hammersmith.

Francis Rowe ● 406d

I passed The Stag yesterday and there were signs of life so apparently all is well and apologies for raising unnecessary concerns. 

Andrew OSullivan ● 414d

You are very kind Kevin but apologies to Will as I imagine it is the zillionth time he has heard a quip of this kind.

Francis Rowe ● 419d

Good one Francis.

Kevin Mitchell ● 420d

Someone told me over New Year that The Stag is closing, this time permanently. Alarmed, I wander past this morning to check it out and, although it obviously wasn't open for business, there were no indications of a permanent closure. One slight cause for concern was the lack of any notification of forthcoming football matches on the chalk boards outside. Please tell me it isn't so, this would be a truly terrible start to the year.

Andrew OSullivan ● 420d

Caroline, less conspiracy theories from you next year, please..

Michael Brown ● 422d

Sorry I have a ravelling piece of Polo Mint under my keyboard and it is causing some spelling and punctuation problems

Caroline Carney ● 422d

Mostpeople think the money taken over the counter at Christmas must be huge so why would a pub close.  Hee is a likely bill.Extra staff min £200 a week for 2 weeksExtra food nibles etc £500 minExtra booze if not brewery £4 to 5KExtra plates cups paper goods and decorations. £500Extra music possibly live £300 to £600Extra damages glasses, chairs, ripped wallpaper, puked on carpets, chairs eating in general, bloodstaines after new year, claimes for rippied clothes etc.replacing destroyed CHristmas tree.exra christmas insurance for all of the above.  Then theregulars moan because the pub that is open and inviting you to Christmas dinner at £60 a pop is not free.  All of the above espence is why and breweries are not always generous with CHristmas extras.  Good luck to all publicans and their staff who get away for Christmas and New Year it is a stressful hateful and ungrateful time in a pub and I would never work a Christmas again.  As an emergency housing officer I saw the results of bad holidays the minute the doors opened on after the holidays and they were bruised women and children also men pets and ruined lives.

Caroline Carney ● 422d

Word in a pub near Connolly's that I was in last week was the landlord/owner of Connolly's wanted a Xmas vacation and simply shut the place for two weeks and went! Given the usual level of trade over the Xmas/New Year period in pubs, Connolly's must be easily able to suffer the seasonal loss of business?

Joe Conneely ● 422d

Given the name of the original poster we must be thankful it wasn't on fire.

Francis Rowe ● 423d

5th January - Peter Mielewczyk's birthday.. 🎂 😁

Michael Brown ● 426d

It will reopen on the 5th January 2024.

Peter Mielewczyk ● 426d

The issue is probably staffing. It's always difficult to get experienced bar staff over Christmas and if that means margins are thin then why not just take the time off?

Andrew OSullivan ● 430d

Very odd closing at the busiest time of the year

Jon Jones ● 431d

Will, I understand that the pub is closed for two weeks, but will be re-opening after that. Nothing to worry about.

Joan Adamson ● 431d

Fingers crossed

John Kennedy ● 432d