A RURAL pub owner said they have made the “painful decision” to close on New Year’s Day because “the village and local areas do not wish to support us”.

The Crown Hotel in Llandegla served pints and pub grub meals for seven years under family owners Brian and Mel Braban, however they were forced to make the decision due to a decline in sales.

The pub joins a long list of closed countryside and village public houses in the UK over the last decade amid cheaper alcohol prices and stricter drink driving regulation.

In an emotional Facebook post, they said: “It’s with great sadness I have to announce that after seven long years of hard work, we have taken the decision to close the Crown Hotel.

“Working as a family unit along with some loyal staff we have tried so very hard to keep the business running but with decline in sales as a family we have unfortunately made this painful decision.”

The owners went on to say they “have made lots of memories”, adding: “Despite our best efforts seems the village and local areas do not wish to support us, and this has had a knock-on effect, this being the only pub in Llandegla.

“We understand this decision is affecting staff losing their jobs, we use a lot of local suppliers [and] this will also have a knock-on effect to small independents businesses, but we cannot continue to run at a loss.”

The owners added: “Thank you to those who did support us.”

Martyn Holland, county councillor for Llandegla, said the New Year’s Day closure is “very sad news”.

“Rural pubs have been facing difficult times with more people now drinking at home and the fact that most of their customers have to use their cars to them to support them,” Cllr Holland said.

“The rural pub has always been at the heart of village life and they have been places for locals to meet. Once they close that personal contact and interaction is lost.

The owners are taking some time to review their options and I am in talks with them to see if I can help.”

Pubgoers posted on Facebook to express their upset over the closure.

“Absolutely gutted to read this, but totally understand, with the challenges of running a pub,” one said.

Another comment read: “We live in a local village that sadly has no pub and made you our local for the best Sunday lunch around.”

The Golden Lion, a rural pub in Coedpoeth, near Wrexham, said: “Everyone will be sorry to see you leave, maybe if everyone realises how lucky they are to have a great pub they will make the effort to come regular”.