The Great Shefford pub company goes into liquidation

THE business that runs The Great Shefford village pub has gone into voluntary liquidation.

However company director Josh Khan said his other West Berkshire pub, The King Charles Tavern in Cheap Street, Newbury, remains unaffected.

Meanwhile, Mr Khan said it remained business as usual and the popular village pub restaurant, which has become a fine dining destination, remains open.

A petition to wind up the company, J and G (Pubs) (UK) Ltd, whose registered office is listed as The Great Shefford, was brought by creditors HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

It was lodged with the High Court of Justice in April.

Later in the month, a meeting was held between Mr Khan and the creditors, resulting in liquidators being appointed on Friday, May 5.

The process is known as creditors’ voluntary liquidation and represents the decision to close down a limited company, usually with the threat of insolvency looming.

In 2021, The Great Shefford had a £1m refurbishment, while The King Charles Tavern in Cheap Street, Newbury, had an £80,000 makeover.

Mr Khan had previously warned that The Great Shefford could become unviable when, in 2020, planners rejected a bid to create a ‘breakfast kiosk’ in the pub car park.

Last July a second attempt to diversify, by creating an on-site farm shop, was agreed by planners, despite an initial rejection.

However, that project has not been launched.

Mr Khan said this week: “Unfortunately the company couldn’t cope with the losses sustained during Covid.

“HMRC got very jittery and aggresive and so, sadly, we’ve had to dissolve the company.”

Nevertheless, said Mr Khan, “the lease remains in our name,” The Great Shefford would continue to welcome customers and he had contingency plans for the future.