'Heartbroken' Seafood Pub Company owner thanks staff and customers after gastropub group goes into administration

Jocelyn Neve, who founded the Seafood Pub Company in 2010, which combined her family heritage in the fishing industry with her passion for high-quality food and relaxed service, announced in a letter to staff at the weekend that the company had been forced to go into administration.

The Barrowford-based company, which has won multiple national awards and a legion of satisfied customers over the years, operated some of Lancashire and Yorkshire's best known gastropubs.

These included East Lancashire destinations the Alma Inn, Laneshawbridge, the Barley Mow, Barley, the Assheton Arms, Downham, the Forest at Fence, as well as the Farmers Arms, Great Eccleston, the Oyster and Otter, Blackburn, the Fenwick in Claughton, the Derby Arms in Longridge, Harrogate's The Inn, and The Fleece in Ilkley.

Jocelyn said: "The Seafood Pub Company has filed a Notice of Intention to Appoint Administrators.

"The past few months has been unprecedented for the hospitality industry. Unable to access Government support in the form of a a CBIL, (Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan) or other funding, and with no income since the forced closure, there is no choice other than for the business to go into Administration.

"It goes without saying I am truly heartbroken to have lost my business, but even more so for my team and seafood family. We fought as hard as possible, every step of the way and I am just so sorry to all the team that we weren’t able to save the business.

"I can’t thank the team, guests, suppliers, neighbours and everyone who has been part of Seafood Pub Company enough, for your hard work, support and friendship the past nine years and especially for your kindness and well wishes in this incredibly difficult time."