Marco Pierre White sells gastro-pub after 'being boycotted by staff and locals'
MARCO Pierre White has sold his Wiltshire gastropub amid reports it was boycotted by both locals and staff, who were fed up with expensive prices.
Apparently the staff even embarked on a mass walkout after it was claimed they were frustrated with the celebrity chef's management style.
The Pair Tree Inn in Whitley, Wiltshire, was bought by Pierre in 2011, but quickly came under fire from locals for its high prices.
It was even climbed earlier this month that there was just one manager left after the head chef walked out because of White's alleged bossy management style.
The sale of the pub was confirmed on Thursday and removal vans have been seen emptying the site.
A spokesman previously claimed the restaurant was only shut for a quick refurbishment, but the new owners have been confirmed to take over the site on Friday.
Terry Chivers, a councillor who has been drinking in the pub for 20 years, said people had stopped going to the Pear Tree Inn after White refused to engage with regulars.
He said: "I've heard the place is losing £2,000 a week - that's just the rumours though.
"The place should be a goldmine but people aren't going in any more
"The locals are sick of it. You walk up to the bar and it takes ten to 15 minutes to get served
"I hope whoever has got it will engage with the locals from the start and get them back into the bar."
He went on to add that White had replaced local beers with a large selection of wines and removed all draught lagers from the beer while stocking only one expensive lager.
It was also claimed that it often took over 15 minutes to get a drink at the bar.
Mr Chivers added: “Over the last week everything has been removed and the whole place has been gutted.
"All the staff have gone and there has been no attempts made to replace them. I don't think Marco will be missed in the slightest around here.
"He came in and made a big deal about supporting the locals but he didn't even have the decency to tell them the Pear Tree was closing.”