ANOTHER week and another pub closure to announce. North Cumbria's residents are bearing the brunt of the cost of living crisis not least because our local economy relies heavily on tourism and the hospitality industry. 

As our national economy teeters on recession the cost of living crisis is hitting our restaurants and pubs quite severely. 

Pubs in North Cumbria's City and towns have had to close. It is becoming one of the theme's of 2023 as our beloved watering holes call time and last orders on their cash-strapped local punters. 

The latest pub the Shoulder of Mutton based in Brampton is set to close due to 'rising costs and personal reasons.'

The announcement of the closure was made by landlady Vikki Gordon, who has worked in Brampton pubs for around 20 years, on social media.

She said: "It is with great sadness that I will announce that I will be leaving the shoulder"

"Due to rising costs and personal reasons, I’ve decided the time is right.

"This has been by far one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made and has not been an "easy decision by any means, a real battle of head and heart"

Local customers and News and Star Readers have reacted with a heavy heart saying this popular pub will be sorely missed but it sadly is a sign of the times that pubs are shutting their doors for the last time. 

Stephen Bell posted: "A great pub with loads of memories it was a proper pub and such a shame to see this happen but it seems it's the norm now pubs closing all over people haven't the money now"

Andy Elliot posted: "such a shame.another one bites the dust"

"good old days doing the Brampton pub crawl"

Ann Nash: "What a shame. A proper pub to close"

Tony Hind said: "That is very sad, my family had this pub for forty years, first my Grandmother, then my Uncle"