A village pub near Wantage has closed due to the cost of living crisis.

Kate Hayden reopened The Extraordinary Hare in West Hendred in 2019 following a four-year closure and has been running it ever since.

But she has now taken the 'very difficult decision' to close the pub due to the high running costs.

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She told the Oxford Mail: "The utilities bill finished us off.

"Some of the locals over the years have been very supportive - the people who liked the pub loved it.

"It's the only pub in this village but we just could not afford to keep it running.

"It's a worrying time for the industry - some people have decided it's cheaper to stay at home."

Oxford Mail: Kate Hayden at The Extraordinary Hare

Ms Hayden ran the pub, owned by Star Pubs & Bars, with manager Mechelle Quinn.

Ms Hayden said in a post on the pub's Facebook page: "Saying goodbye to this beautiful place my heart actually broke."

She added: "Covid changed everything, for everyone.

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"And sadly with structural changes in my other business and increased demand there, I had to make a decision.

"I put it off as long as I could but with chef recruitment proving more difficult than ever and the kitchen being split between myself, Mechelle and with support from Simon it was time.

"It’s one of the saddest and hardest dilemmas I’ve faced.

"The reality was, one sick call and I was in tricky waters."

Ms Hayden added: "Covid influenced consumer spending habits, then throw in inflation and world affairs and you are facing bigger challenges than you ever anticipated and still, I never felt more conflicted.

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"Some will have loved what we offered and to some, we just weren’t their thing and that’s OK, that’s life but all I’m reassured by is no one can say I, we didn’t try. The only person that needed convincing, was me."

She thanked customers for their support over the last four and a half years and for helping her to 'raise this historical local haunt from the ashes to become the stunning charismatic venue you see before you'.

The pub's last night under Ms Hayden's management was July 21.

Despite the closure she said it would hopefully not be last orders forever.

"Thankfully the brewery have had a wonderful amount of interest and it looks as though someone will be holding the pub until the right people are found to compliment this fantastic business and watering hole," she added.

Now she will focus on running her other pub The Snow Goose in Farnborough, Hampshire, where utility bills are now running at £6,500 a month.Oxford Mail: A buttermilk burger at the pub

Dave Richardson, of the Oxford branch of real ale group CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale), said: "May I add my best wishes and well done for all you have achieved.

"Good luck for the future and I hope Star finds someone to run it soon."

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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