The Stag Hotel in Lyndhurst steps in after the New Forest Butcher goes bust

A VILLAGE pub has stepped in to save Christmas for locals after a butcher went bust, leaving around 100 customers without their deposits for festive meats.

The New Forest Butcher on Lyndhurst High Street suddenly stopped trading on 13th December, citing high energy bills and lack of custom.

A post in the window said: “We are so sorry we have had to close.

“Due to high rising energy bills and slow custom, we have had no alternative but to cease trading.”

It added that it “could not honour” its commitment to customers who had paid deposits for Christmas meat, but explained their details would be passed to liquidators.

But the Stag Hotel, in conjunction with its butcher, Meadow Brook Produce in Everton, has now offered wholesale prices to those who placed orders with closed store.

Landlady Maria Harris told the A&T she knew of around 100 customers who had paid deposits to the shop, and wanted to help.

Speaking about the closure she said: “It’s not good. He recently had his electricity cut off – the place has been run into the ground.

“We’ve asked our own butcher, and they are happy to offer meat at cost price so people aren’t too out of pocket.

“It is really kind of them.

“When I was a kid, my parents would save £10 per month so there wasn’t a big expense at Christmas and there are still people who work like that.

“It is about that community spirit, a pub is more than pulling a pint, it is about looking after the community.”

One customer told the A&T she had paid a £20 deposit for a hamper of meat which was due to collected on Christmas Eve.

She said: “We only know about the closure as it was on Facebook – we had no contact from them at all.

“It’s rather dishonest when they knew it was coming.”

Customers looking to take up the pub on its offer will need to provide proof of their deposit with the New Forest Butcher.

As reported in the A&T, earlier this year the Stag Hotel was named Community Pub of the Year by Greene King Pub Partners – just months after securing a New Forest Brilliance in Business Award in the Contribution to New Forest Community category.