Landlords of Singleton's Miller Arms pub call time but promise it's business as usual for now

The licensees of one of Fylde coast’s most popular pubs have decided to leave after more than four years.

Lee and Julie Lord of Miller Arms in Singleton made the announcement on their social media page confirming they had ‘given notice’ and described the decision as ‘certainly not an easy one’.

However, they said it was the right time to go and was purely a ‘business decision’ citing how the opportunity at the pub - home to the Greedy Badger eatery - had changed considerably amid the new housing development directly opposite.

The couple said the pub would remain open and trading as normal as new licensees are sought.

In a statement, Lee Lord said: “After an amazing four and a half years at The Miller Arms, Julie and I have made the decision to give notice and bring our time at the pub to a close.

“It’s certainly not been an easy decision. We’ve had some fantastic years here and met so many wonderful people along the way — many of whom we’re very fortunate to now call friends rather than customers.

“Over the last few months, however, the opportunity at The Miller Arms has changed considerably. With the new housing development taking place directly opposite the pub, the landscape and circumstances surrounding the business have altered significantly, bringing with them a number of challenges that we hadn’t anticipated when we originally took on the pub.

“We did share a meeting with senior members of The Singleton Trust around two years ago to ask them to seriously consider the implications this would have on the business as a whole but unfortunately the Trust decided to press ahead.

“As business owners, sometimes you have to look at things objectively and decide where your time, energy and investment are best placed.

“After a great deal of consideration, we both feel that now is the right time for us to move on and focus our attention on our other business interests.

“This is purely a business decision and one that we believe is right for us and our future.

“Most importantly, we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported The Miller Arms and supported us personally over the last four and a half years.

“We’ve shared some brilliant days, nights, celebrations, laughs and memories here, and we’re incredibly grateful for the friendships we’ve made along the way.

“For now, it’s very much business as usual at The Miller Arms, and we look forward to enjoying the remainder of our time here with you all.

“Thank you for being part of our journey. Onwards and Upwards.”

The pub, on Weeton Road, is one of the oldest buildings in the village of Singleton, said to date from the 17th century, and has traditionally been one of the main hubs of the community.

Although a community pub in the pretty village, The Miller Arms has always been a go-to place for a drive out and a meal. It’s owned by Trust Inns and it says on its website the pub business and flat are currently available to let.

An earlier version of this story named two members of The Singleton Trust who met with the licensees of the Miller Arms in Singleton on behalf of the board. Those members have asked The Gazette to clarify that they did have a meeting to listen to the concerns before taking them back to the Board of Trustees for consideration. All future decisions were made by The Singleton Trust and not by a single individual.