Last order for historic Leamington pub

THE FINAL innings beckons for an historic Leamington pub.

The Cricketers on Archery Road will be calling last orders for the final time this weekend after the current landlords made the difficult decision shut the popular pub for good.

In a Facebook statement they said: “It’s with a very heavy heart that we have to announce that The Cricketers will be closing its doors, with our final day of trading on Saturday (October 10).

“After a huge amount of thought and consideration, the rising cost of rent, stock, VAT and the general cost of running a pub have unfortunately made it impossible for us to continue.

“Thank you to every single one of you – our regulars, familiar faces, friends and visitors. You’ve given this place its character, and we’ll never forget the laughter, celebrations, the football, the quizzes, the karaoke and all the memories we’ve shared togethger.

“So while this is a sad time, we don’t want to go quietly. We want to see as many of you as possible for one final Cricketers night. Come down, raise a glass with us, say goodbye to the pub and help us give The Cricketers the send-off it deserves.”

The 19th century pub, which originally operated on Victoria Street before relocating round the corner to Archery Road in 1889, will forever have a part in cricketing folklore.

Archery Road was renamed in 1873 when nearby land was being used for archery, though the original street name where the pub took root was Cricket Street.

The sport was played at a cricket ground established near the pub in 1849 by legendary cricketer and almanack compiler John Wisden.

There is plaque at the pub honouring John Wisden, noting his time living in the town and as the founder of the famous cricketing reference book. Known as the ‘Bible of Cricket’, the first Wisden alamanak was published in 1864 and is still published annually today.

One of a increasingly dwindling number of traditional pubs still open in the town, news of the closure of “a fantastic neighbourhood pub” has been met with sadness.

An Australian regular posted: “The Cricketers has always been on our regular rotation of pubs in the area. We always take our visitors from Oz there for a drink or a feed and they all loved the place.”