THE crisis facing York’s pubs has claimed another victim.

Last orders have been called at The Independent pub, in Haxby Road, as its landlord says a combination of factors are to blame, including rising bills, cheap supermarket beer and the smoking ban.

Cash-strapped landlord Harold Bentley, who has run the local for little more than a year, said “a plague” was hanging over the future of York pubs.

He said he would be pulling his last pint on Monday – with no intention of returning to the bar trade.

“The pub just doesn’t make any money any more,” he said. “Beer’s expensive, bills are expensive – everything’s expensive and we can’t make ends meet. I guess we are like most pubs at the moment.

“It is a different generation now. People are staying in and drinking at home instead of going to a pub or bar.

“I have been the landlord of the pub for just over a year and it had been a very difficult time.

“We did so much to promote the pub such as tapas nights, gigs and ‘free burger Friday’, but they didn’t work. It is like a bad plague over pubs at the moment.” He added: “I don’t what’s next for me, but I won’t be staying in the pub industry. Things will only get worse.”

On Monday, The Press reported on a new parliamentary report which revealed there were 40 fewer pubs in York and North Yorkshire than four years ago. York has lost two, Harrogate three, Ryedale eight, Selby nine and the Vale of York 12.

The leaseholds at a raft of pubs around the city are up for sale. Those affected in York in recent months include the Bay Horse, in Blossom Street; the Cock And Bottle in Skeldergate; the Rose And Crown, in Lawrence Street; the Golden Ball, in Cromwell Road; the Snickleway, in Goodramgate; the Volunteer Arms, in Watson Street; the Cygnet, in Price Street; the Fossway, in Huntington Road; and the Bay Horse, in Fulford.