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The fate of its cricket team remains uncertain following a scandal involving undisclosed payments to some players last season.

Now the owner of the pub claims to have inspired the local establishment in The Archers says his business is also at risk – because ofRachel Reeves‘ tax raid.

The historic Old Bull Inn, featuring half-timbered architecture, has been located on the village green in Inkberrow, Worcestershire, since the 16th century and once welcomed William Shakespeare as a guest.

However, landlord Joe Reed cautioned that he might need to think about ending the arrangement permanently due to the Chancellor’s adjustments to business rates following a previous increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions.

Inkberrow, named England’s most beautiful village in 2023, is known as the real-life counterpart to Ambridge, the setting ofBBC Radio 4’s The Archers.

The Old Bull Inn is believed to have inspired The Bull, a fixture in the long-running series, and is also referred to as a ‘half-timbered structure close to the village green’ in promotional content from the BBC.

Similarly to its fictional counterpart, the pub with stone flooring serves as the heart of the village and its main social gathering place.

Fans of the series, marking its 75th anniversary, gather at this charming location during the summer to enjoy pints similar to those consumed by ‘Ambridge residents’ – and view items like autographed scripts and cast photographs that line the pub’s walls.

Trade is still relatively stable,” Mr. Reed stated. “It’s the additional expenses that are creating the problem.

We invested the time – I work approximately 60 hours per week – and it would be pleasant to receive recognition for that.

In the November Budget, Ms Reeves stated that the 40 per cent business rates support from the pandemic would conclude this April, affecting pubs through a reassessment of the tax.

The modifications indicated that pubs would be subjected to significant rises in their business rates, and hospitality leaders cautioned about this,combined with a rise in the minimum wage and the increase in employer National Insurance contributions, could compel hundreds of drunkards against the wall.

Intense opposition resulted in over 1,000 property owners blocking Labour MPs, prompting a retreat and the introduction of a financial assistance plan from the Treasury.

The package includes English pubs receiving a 15 percent reduction in their business rates next year, followed by a freeze on bills in real terms for an additional two years.

Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride stated that the plan would merely “postpone the hardship for a short time,” and Mr. Reed, aged 70, concurred, criticizing the Chancellor for simply “pushing the problem further down the road.”

A warning about additional pub closures ahead, he stated: “Over the course of three years, we will transition from the old rates to the new ones, in gradual steps.”

But after three years, we will face difficulties once more, possibly doubling our rates.

We remain financially stable, but we are lucky to have visitors coming here due to the connection with The Archers…however, we are not earning a lot of money.

We are covering the expenses but that’s all. The era of generating significant profits has passed.

Mr. Reed, who has served as the landlord of the Stonegate Group’s pub since 2019, mentioned that the Chancellor’s move to increase employers’ National Insurance rates from 13.8% to 15% in her initial budget for 2024 had already significantly raised the payroll costs.

“We have eight employees – one working full-time and the rest on a part-time basis,” he stated.

We’ve had to stop all hiring, so we’re now doing a lot more things ourselves than we used to.

He is also worried that his rent will increase again when it is reviewed in two years.

“Along with the rate hikes, it makes me seriously think about whether it’s worth continuing,” Mr. Reed stated.

A review of Valuation Office Agency data reveals that over 500 pubs have shut down since the Labour party took office in July 2024.

Archers’ audience last week learned about the lingering resentment in the village regarding the contentious choice to secretly compensate certain players on the local cricket team last season, despite the team’s promotion, which ultimately resulted in relegation.

Club captain Freddie Pargetter, who agreed to the payment plan, arranged a meeting to talk about the next steps at The Old Bull – but ended up distracted by a client visit and missed the gathering. His absence led local heartthrob Chris Carter to claim that it might mean the ‘end of the cricket team’ since ‘the others won’t give him another chance now’.

It is believed that William Shakespeare visited The Old Bull during his journey from Stratford-upon-Avon to Worcester, where he obtained his marriage license for Anne Hathaway.

The inventor of Archers, Godfrey Baseley, who was born in Alvechurch, Worcestershire, was also known for having drinks at the local pub.

Inkberrow, along with other nearby areas like Hanbury—where Mr. Baseley’s sister-in-law owned a farm—has appeared in promotional materials for the Archers, a program produced in Birmingham, 23 miles to the north.

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