USE it or lose it – that is the blunt message to residents living near to the Live and Let Live pub, in Wherstead Road, Ipswich.Despite undergoing extensive refurbishment by the new tenants, Mark and Tracy Aldred, the pub has failed to pull in the punters and is facing closure unless there is an upturn in trade.

USE it or lose it – that is the blunt message to residents living near to the Live and Let Live pub, in Wherstead Road, Ipswich.

Despite undergoing extensive refurbishment by the new tenants, Mark and Tracy Aldred, the pub has failed to pull in the punters and is facing closure unless there is an upturn in trade.

Since taking over the running of the Pubmaster-owned pub in September last year, Mr and Mrs Aldred have invested large sums of money in refurbishing the pub and introduced a food menu.

Mr Aldred, 29, said: "The place was in a hell of a state when we took over but since then we have spent a lot of money on it. We have got the kitchen up to scratch and we serve home cooked food.

"But really there are only a handful of people who use me."

The pub boasts a pool table, dartboard, juke box and also shows Sky football matches but has failed to attract enough pub-goers.

Mr Aldred said it is possible that the pub could be closed within a month unless something changes.

"It was me who put the sign out – and it's right, he said. "I have spoken to my area manager and this is the last chance saloon for this pub. If it doesn't kick off this time, they will close it and it will probably end up as flats.

"I feel let down. We came here because we wanted to run a pub. We have also done it for the Wherstead Road residents – to give them somewhere to go and for the people of Ipswich – but nobody has bothered."

A spokeswoman for Pubmaster said they had no plans to close the pub and had already reassured Mr Aldred about the situation.

She said: "Closing a pub is always a last resort. Pubmaster continues to work with its tenants by offering business and promotional support to help to maximise the profitability of their business."

Richard Self, a spokesman for Camra (the campaign for real ale), spoke of his concern about the plight of the pub and appealed for residents to use it.

He said: "We try to keep all pubs open and obviously we would encourage people to use all pubs. The Live and Let Live pub is the only one along that way so I'm surprised it doesn't attract more locals.

"If that pub was lost, then people would have to walk further to the nearest pub. People don't want to drive and drive and this pub is in walking distance."

Do you know about the history of the Live and Let Live pub? Do you have any tales of what it used to be like or pictures of how it used to look? If so, please write to the Evening Star newsdesk, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk. Alternatively, call the newsdesk on 01473 324788.

WEBLINK

www.pubmaster.co.uk