A couple have made a 'difficult' decision to close a popular village pub known for its Sunday lunches.

Rising energy bills and soaring wine and beer prices have forced Jane and Damon Frost, landlords of the Lion, a pub in Somerton, to shut the venue's doors.

The last day of trading was Sunday, January 29.

Ms Frost, 39, said: "We took the Lion over three months before the pandemic happened, so it wasn't very good timing.

"It was quite unloved. We put a lot of effort into building up a better reputation."

Like other businesses across the country, the pub then faced intermittent restrictions and lockdowns.

"We got over that, just," Ms Frost said. "But then there was the fuel crisis, then the energy crisis, now the cost of living crisis."

Eastern Daily Press: Jane and Damon Frost, landlords of the Lion Jane and Damon Frost, landlords of the Lion (Image: Jane and Damon Frost)

In December the couple looked at their books and concluded the situation was not going to improve this year. 

Damon, 43, took on a full-time job with First Bus before Christmas to help with the finances. 

Ms Frost said: "We thought with a regular wage we might be able to keep going.

"But we can't, it's too expensive.

"It's just been price increase after price increase so what we'd have to charge to make even a slight profit, I couldn't do it, I feel like I'd be robbing the public," she said. 

"We realised we can't jump any more hurdles so we had to make the decision to close."

The Frosts are originally from Luton. In 2019, the prospect of running their own pub took them to Norfolk, and in November of that year they opened the Lion.

Ms Frost had been in the trade since she was 18-years-old and all she had ever wanted to do was cook food without the restrictions imposed by a franchise.

She will miss the customers and staff, who made all the long hours worthwhile. 

"We're very fortunate. We've got some very kind, caring, loving customers and that's also what made it a very hard decision.

"We're staying in Norfolk. We've never felt more at home anywhere. It is a lovely part of the country."

This week, Ms Frost will start work at a local care home.

The couple are hopeful that instead of a permanent closure they might be able reopen the Lion in the future, once they get their feet on the ground again.

"It's a ta-ra instead of a goodbye," Ms Frost said. "We're hoping it's not going to be final."