Councillors campaign for Sheffield pub to reopen after sudden closure
“We want Stonegate to work with us to give the Earl Marshal the chance to thrive again”
Councillors are calling on one of the nation’s biggest pub companies to bring back a local watering hole that was suddenly closed for the “foreseeable future.”
On Wedesday, September 30, management at the Earl Marshal on East Bank Road made the shock announcement that the pub would be closing immediately due to “unforeseen circumstances.”
Formerly known as Midhill House and Midhill Working Men's Club and Institute, the pub was owned by national company Stonegate who operate chains like Slug and Lettuce and Walkabout.
Now, the area’s Labour councillors have launched a campaign to ‘save the Earl Marshal Pub’, calling on Stonegate management to restore the business.
Park and Arbourthorne councillor Ben Miskell said: “Pubs are an important part of our cultural life, and here in Arbourthorne we value them. They reflect our city’s history and character, support local jobs and give people somewhere to come together.
“Our community has already lost too many of these spaces. Once they disappear, they can be incredibly difficult to replace.
“We want Stonegate to work with us to give the Earl Marshal the chance to thrive again.”
Find the councillor’s petition here
Also on Tuesday, another Stonegate pub - The Hyde Park, on Hill Top Road, Dronfield - announced its closure with a similar statement blaming “unforeseen circumstances.”
Meanwhile, Yates, in Sheffield city centre - another Stonegate venue - closed on Saturday, September 26 for a major refurbishment, with the bar expected to return under the name Barkers and Co later this month.
Coun Miskell, with fellow ward councillor Mia Drazaic, have written to Stonegate’s chief executive David McDowall l, asking the company to explain its plans for the Earl Marshal, whether it is seeking a new operator and what timetable it envisages for reopening.
“A local pub can mean so much more than somewhere to have a drink,” Coun Drazaic added
“It can be a place to catch up with neighbours, celebrate family milestones or simply find some company. Those everyday connections matter, particularly for people who might otherwise feel isolated.
“We’ve launched this petition to give residents a way to show how much these community spaces mean to us. As local councillors, we stand ready to help Stonegate and any prospective operator secure a sustainable future for the Earl Marshall.”