Two historic St Albans pubs have been forced to close following a hike in business rates.
Fences have gone up around The Boot in Market Place today (Monday, April 1) with signs explaining the detrimental effect rising business rates have had on local pubs.
The signs say: ‘Pub closed due to unsustainable business rates’, ‘New luxury flats?’ and ‘Another empty high street building’.
Signs and fencing have also gone up around Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in Abbey Mill Lane, believed to be the oldest pub in Britain.
The Boot is a grade II listed building which dates to around 1500.
Manager Marley Hart said: “Due to the failure in the government policy with business rates, which is failing St Albans High Street, we have unfortunately had to close at the start of the tax year.”
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