The Glensway Bar in Martinstown faces possible closure unless local trade improves, its owners have warned, citing rising operating costs and insufficient weekend custom.

The family-run business has been hit by increases in wholesale prices, energy bills, wages and supply expenses. Its regular outgoings include music royalties, entertainment licensing, insurance, water charges, waste collection and sports TV subscriptions.

Since taking over the premises, the owners have spent more than £25,000 on upgrades. These include a music lounge, a modern bar, a covered heated beer garden and six televisions showing live sport. They have also organised events such as live music, bingo nights and quizzes to draw in customers.

Despite those efforts, trade has not reached a sustainable level. The operators said some Sundays bring fewer than five patrons, making it impossible to cover weekly expenses that amount to thousands of pounds.

In a public message to the community, the licensees urged residents to use the pub or risk losing it. They acknowledged the current cost-of-living pressures on households and said even small purchases, such as a soft drink or packet of crisps, can help keep the business viable.

The situation highlights the wider challenges facing independent licensed premises, particularly in rural areas where pubs often serve as social hubs as well as commercial enterprises. If such businesses close, the loss extends beyond trade to the community spaces they provide.