Pub targeted by burglars and vandals

TWO young entrepreneurs who turned around a failing pub are today the target of yobs and thieves it can be revealed.

Pub owners Will and Emily Bowman who own The Arboretum in High Street, have suffered five months of difficulties topped off by a fire in the kitchen of the pub this week which meant they could not serve hot food that night.

Although the fire on Wednesday was an accident, the couple said it is the latest in a series of frustrating incidents at the pub.

Perhaps the most astonishing chapter in the Bowman's recent saga was on May 24, when brazen thieves stole a pair of huge wrought iron gates, valued at approximately �2000, from the pub garden during a barbecue for around 70 customers.

Mrs Bowman said: “We couldn't believe the cheek of it.

“We've had a few problems to say the least.

“On the positive side we have expanded upstairs after getting to the stage where the bottom floor of the pub was full. But it doesn't help when we are forced to close for the day.”

Since it opened in December the pub has had favourable reviews from its growing number of patrons.

But just weeks after they opened they became the target of burglars who broke in to the pub at the end of January.

The burglars trashed the place and stole alcohol but failed to get their hands on any cash.

A week later, Mrs Bowman saw thieves trying to break into her car. When her husband confronted the crooks, one of them threatened him with a knife.

The following week the pub was again broken into, during which Mr Bowman's car was stolen, and just six weeks ago the outside wall was daubed in purple paint by vandals.

If you know anything about the crimes that have taken place, call Suffolk Police on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Are you struggling to maintain a successful business because of crime? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk