The popular Wild Swan at Minskip has announced it has closed

Staff at the Wild Swan in Minskip, near Boroughbridge, were told of the closure earlier this week.

The closure was also announced on the website of the 19th century village inn.

Friends Alex Bond and Stephen Lennox bought the Wild Swan in 2021, aiming to restore it to its former glory post-pandemic.

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Blending classical pub food and a la carte gastronomy, their efforts paid off, with the pair saying their efforts were 70 per cent up in early 2023 compared to the same in 2021.

They took on highly-regarded chefs, including Mark Turton, who had once worked with Gordon Ramsey.

Another star hire was the return of Paul Murphy, who came back after a year at the Aldwark Arms, between Boroughbridge and Easingwold.

Such talent ensured a great reputation for food, with Google awarding the Wild Swan 4.6 stars out of five, based on 662 reviews.

Tripadvisor awards the Wild Swan 4.3 stars our of five, ranking it third out of 17 Boroughbridge restaurants.

However, the hospitality sector is facing tough times fuelled by cost increases such as rising minimum wage rates, higher national insurance, amid other increases.

A proposed revaluation of business rates is also set to hit pubs and hospitality hard, leading to it to emerge on Thursday that the government is set to u-turn with a range of initiatives to help the pub sector.

This follows York Central MP calling on Sir Keir Starmer to help pubs at Prime Minister’s Question Time on Wednesday.

Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch also announced her ‘blueprint’ to save pubs on Thursday, with proposed measures including cuts in business rates and energy bills.

The Wild Swan closure was announced before such support, potential or otherwise, was mooted. No reason for the closure has been given.

Its website states: “The Wild Swan is currently closed. For all enquiries please email us at info@wildswan.pub. Our phone lines are not currently monitored.

“If you currently have a voucher outstanding with us. We believe we have emailed everyone with an outstanding voucher purchased since the start of September. If you haven’t received an email or have an older voucher that you believe is outstanding. Please email the above address.”

The Press has approached the Wild Swan for comment.