St Albans: England’s oldest pub Ye Olde Fighting Cocks closes

Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St Albans has survived wars and plagues but the coronavirus pandemic brought new challenges

The pub page posted “It is with great sadness that I have to announce that today, after a sustained period of extremely challenging trading conditions, YOFC Ltd has gone into administration.”

Christo Tofalli, who runs Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St Albans, Herts, said the Covid-19 pandemic was devastating and our already tight profit margins gave us no safety net. This resulted in us being unable to meet our financial obligations as they were due, creating periods of great uncertainty and stress for all who worked for, and with, the pub.

He said he was “heartbroken” and had “tried everything” to keep open the pub, which dates back to AD793.

Mr Tofalli said the pub would reopen under new management but that he would “walk away”.

He said the pub’s owner Mitchells and Butlers (M&B) was now talking to the administrators of his company.

“We are all looking for the best way forward for the pub but it will reopen with new owners and I hope they will keep a bit of the soul and spirit going,” he said.

He thanked ‘Mitchell and Butler’ for their help and support throughout going into administration; they have been amazing.

DRIVERS WITNESS COCK PHEASANTS FIGHTING AT ROADSIDE NR WATFORD