The family running one of Saundersfoot’s most popular seaside pubs has given a heartfelt thanks to customers and staff, after announcing that they will sadly closing the doors to the establishment this weekend.

Susannah Palmer, who runs the seaside village’s Hean Castle Inn, shared the news on social media, with the pub set to shut this Sunday (June 28).

“This one’s tough.In truth, these are words we never thought we’d have to write. We tried. We fought. We gave this everything we had. But despite every effort, we just can’t keep going,” she stated.

“After nearly four years of opening the doors at The Hean, we’ve made the heartbreaking decision to close. Our final day of trading will be Sunday, 28th June.”

“This isn’t how we imagined our story would end. Like so many independent pubs across the country, we’ve faced challenge after challenge.”

Susannah said that a number of factors have played a part in the decision, from energy costs soaring to supplier prices rising, the minimum wage increasing significantly, and National Insurance contributions going up.

“The financial pressure has simply become too great,” she continued. “We never imagined we’d become another hospitality statistic, but the reality is that the business is no longer financially viable.

“We have done everything we possibly could to make it work. We increased our prices only when we had no choice. We adapted our menu to keep it affordable for everyone. We hosted live music, quiz nights, open mic nights and themed events in the hope of bringing people together and keeping the doors open.

“We explored every option available to us, including trying to find someone to take over the lease, but despite our very best efforts, we couldn’t make that happen.”

Despite being far from quiet, Suzannah said that the numbers simply no longer ‘added up’. and after exhausting every option, her and the family reached the point where they could no longer continue.

“Walking away from something you’ve poured your heart and soul into is one of the hardest decisions we’ve ever had to make,” she remarked.

“We’re sorry there hasn’t been more notice, but it was important to us that our team heard this news directly from us before anyone else.

“To our incredible staff, Thank you. You have worked tirelessly, supported us through the good days and the difficult ones, and cared about The Hean as if it were your own.

“And to our customers, where do we even begin? Whether you joined us for food, live music, a quiet drink after work, to watch the rugby or football, a quiz night, an open mic night, or simply because The Hean had become part of your weekly routine…thank you.You didn’t just support a business. You became part of our lives.

“Over the last four years we’ve laughed together, celebrated together, supported local charities, welcomed local musicians and shared countless conversations across the bar. Those memories are something nobody can ever take away.

“We know there will be plenty of conversations over the coming weeks, and that’s understandable. But behind every business closure is a family who invested not just their money, but their time, their energy, their hopes and their hearts.

“We gave The Hean everything we had. Although we’re heartbroken that this chapter is coming to an end, we will always be incredibly proud of what we created together. For a little while, The Hean became more than just a pub. It became a place where people met, friendships were formed, local talent was supported and memories were made.

“For our family’s sake, we’ve made the incredibly difficult decision to close this chapter and begin a new one. If you’ve ever visited us, supported us, recommended us to a friend, attended one of our events, or simply popped in for a meal or a drink, thank you.

“Every booking, every conversation, every smile and every kind word meant more than you’ll ever know.

“Thank you for allowing us to be part of Saundersfoot for the last four years. The Hean, its community and the memories we’ve made here will always hold a very special place in our hearts,” she added.