Stockton pubs The Queen Victoria and Eaglescliffe Hotel shut

A councilor has spoken out about the community loss being felt after two popular Stockton pubs closed within days of each other.

The Queen Victoria and the Eaglescliffe Hotel, both on Yarm Road, called last orders on Monday night and Wednesday night this week, respectively.

Councilor Louise Baldock, who represents Stockton’s Parkfield and Oxbridge Ward, said the rate that pubs are shutting is a ‘tragedy’ as they are often the last remaining community venue for people to gather in.

She said the Eaglescliffe hosted residents’ association meetings and both pubs were popular places for locals to gather and celebrate special occasions.

She added: “I think that the pub industry has been struggling for a long time, partly because of the smoking ban and partly because alcohol is cheaper to buy and drink at home than it is to buy at the pub.

The Queen Victoria Picture: Google

“We have seen probably more than half of our pubs close over the last 20-years, however those pubs that remain, many of them are vital for their community.

“There will be, of course, some pubs that it won’t break my heart to see go, but these two pubs have served their community well.

“People have used them to hold their family parties and to celebrate together, to hold barbecues in the summer and so on.

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“They have been a place where residents can come together which is particularly important following the pandemic where people were very keen to be with each other again.”

Cllr Baldock praised the Eaglescliffe for hosting residents’ meetings and said the Queen Victoria served quality, home cooked food and their Sunday lunches were seen as ‘a treat’, especially for those living alone who would dine out once a week.

The Northern Echo: The Eaglescliffe Hotel Picture: GoogleThe Eaglescliffe Hotel Picture: Google

She added: “We have been having quite a lot of discussions when we thought the Cliffe (Eaglescliffe Hotel) was closing about where else is there for local people now?

“If we remove the pub, sometimes we are removing the last surviving publicly accessible building in an area and making it very, very hard for people to get together with their neighbours.

“People could go and watch sports in the pub, they can go and watch the Boro game in the company of other fans, all these things are key things to hold the community together in difficult times and it is a tragedy if they all close. ”

The Queen Victoria has been sold by pub company Admiral Taverns and may be turned into an adult education centre, The Northern Echo understands.

The former landlord of the Eaglescliffe Hotel has been contacted for comment.

The Northern Echo: File photo of Councilor Louise BaldockFile photo of Councilor Louise Baldock

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