MP raises concerns over sudden closure of Dudley pub

Dudley MP, Sonia Kumar has expressed serious concern following the sudden closure of Ye Olde Foundry, a long-standing Dudley town centre pub after its premises licence was revoked with immediate effect.

Ye Olde Foundry, located on King Street, dates back to 1936 and has been run by licensee, Jake Hall since September 2023.

In recent years it has become a valued independent venue, hosting regular rock and metal gigs and offering real ale, playing an important role in Dudley’s cultural and night-time economy.

The closure comes amid claims that the pub’s owner, Stonegate Brewery, revoked the licence without notice, following what the licensee describes as sustained financial pressures, sharply increased rent and supply costs, and enforcement action that made continued trading impossible.

Ms Kumar said: “I am deeply concerned by the sudden closure of Ye Olde Foundry and the circumstances surrounding it. This venue was far more than just a pub, it was a cultural space, a live music venue, and a place where people came together.

"Independent pubs and grassroots venues are already under immense pressure, and when a business that has been part of Dudley’s social fabric for decades closes overnight, it raises serious questions about fairness, transparency and the sustainability of current pub company practices.”

The closure marks the fifth pub to shut in Dudley in the past two months, highlighting the growing challenges facing local hospitality venues amid rising costs and structural pressures in the sector.

Ms Kumar added: “I am thinking especially of Jake, his family, the staff, musicians and the loyal customers who supported The Foundry. No business owner should find themselves in a position where they feel ignored, unsupported or left without clear routes to resolve disputes.”

Sonia has said she will be seeking further clarity on the circumstances surrounding the licence revocation and will raise broader concerns about the treatment of tenants, the viability of tied pub agreements, and the loss of independent cultural venues in town centres like Dudley.

She said: “If we want thriving high streets and a strong local cultural scene, we must do more to support independent venues and ensure that large pub companies are operating responsibly and transparently.

"I will continue to stand up for Dudley’s local businesses and the communities that rely on them.”