A CITY pub’s future has been thrown into doubt after the landlord walked away.

The Alma Tavern had been run by Tim Churchman for nine months, before he left three weeks ago, with the pub now sealed off with metal shutters.

The 52-year-old industry veteran had invested around £7,000 of his own money into the pub but has now signed a five-year lease at The Bridge Inn, Tibberton, near Droitwich.

“I feel sorry for the Alma – I wanted to keep it going as a community pub, but there was too much uncertainty and I couldn’t carry on losing money,” said Mr Churchman.

Having taken over running the pub in October, there was serious concern about his future when new owners Star Pubs & Bars took over and put up an advert for the lease in January.

Mr Churchman had taken over as part of a tenant at will agreement with previous owners Punch Taverns, which means there is no fixed term – but said he was assured by Star he had first option on a longer term lease.

However, he said a refurbishment had been planned under the previous owners, but there was no clear communication about when that would take place once Star took over.

“It’s hard to attract new business when people are walking past and they know nothing’s changed for 15 years,” said Mr Churchman.

He had also reported the leaking roof and drainage problems in the cellar – with the rain water pumping system needing replacing – but this had not been done.

“The stagnant rain water was sitting in the system, but the sump wasn’t throwing it back, and the smell was getting into the real ale barrels,” Mr Churchman said.

“It was just tapped and vented, and I had customers saying the beer is off. It’s soul destroying. I was losing 25 pints a barrel.”

He said Star didn’t appear to “know quite what to do with the place” and “it’s not easy for a tenant at will to run a pub in those conditions”.

“I got to a point where I was thinking, I can’t keep flogging more and more money at it.

“I get it, there was always going to be a delay with the new brewery coming in, but how long can I run a pub like that?”

In contrast, he said NewRiver, the owners of The Bridge Inn, immediately invested £55,000 after he signed the lease, including fitting a new cellar.

“The pub is slightly on its backers – it’s a bit rundown,” he said.

“The owners have put up the money to get it up to scratch. At least now we’ve got a fighting chance of getting business through the door and making a living.”

“It’s all about returns on investment – there’s always an element of risk but I couldn’t keep doing what I was doing. I’ve got a family to support. It was all getting to me.”

The Bridge Inn will officially re-open on Monday, June 18.

A Star spokeswoman said, “plans for a major refurbishment” at the Alma are ongoing and the brewery is looking for a new tenant.