A micropub has become the latest high street name to close its doors – with bosses saying the cost-of-living crisis has dealt a “greater wipe out than the 2008 recession”.

The Made Inn in New Rents, Ashford, closed its doors for the final time over Coronation weekend and signs above the door have already been taken down.

Business founder Steve Sitton says years of underfunding in the high street and rising costs mean pubs have been closing at “an unbelievably fast rate”.

In a statement online, Mr Sitton said: “The past few years have been difficult, far more challenging than I had ever anticipated when starting The Made Inn, or even after lockdown when we saw you return to pubs in your droves.

“Pubs are dying at an unbelievably fast rate, and this isn’t the first one to close its doors, it also won’t be the last one over the next year.

“Believe me when I say this wipe out is far greater than the one I worked through in the ‘great recession’ of 2008.”

Mr Sitton goes on to list the factors he blames for the struggles facing the industry.

“Years of underfunding in our high streets in the hands of a local and national government who are out of shape and out of touch with towns up and down this country,” he said.

“The cost-of-living crisis where, through no fault of your own, you are having to limit your spending.

“The energy crisis which partly saw me close the pub this January, and ultimately the fundamental changes in the way we live and enjoy ourselves.”

Despite the closure of the venue in New Rents, it is not the end for The Made Inn as its Bottle Shop in Coachworks at Dover Place will remain open as usual.

It is a smaller version of the pub which sells a range of craft beers from bottles from Thursday to Sunday.

Mr Sitton will eventually move The Made Inn’s events to the venue including quiz nights and open mic nights.

“I am outright claiming that The Made Inn helped curate a better drinking culture in Ashford,” he added.

“I’m not being big headed, but when I started this place, there was pretty much nowhere else to go unless you liked Wetherspoon-type venues.

“Since then we have seen great venues follow suit on building into that same market and keeping standards high with Matches, Valarie’s and Coachworks to name but a few.”

He says he has made “so many friends” over the years, who helped turn the venue “into something special”.

“For that I thank you with my whole heart, because without you all, I would of fallen on my face within the first six months,” he added.

“This isn’t goodbye, this is a see you at Coachworks where our much more viable bottle shop lives surrounded by quality street food vendors where we can hold much bigger music events, festivals and be part of a wider community of like-minded businesses all striving for one goal, to give you the best experience possible.”

Mr Sitton will move The Made Inn’s events to the venue in Dover Place including quiz nights and open mic nights.

The business first opened in 2018 as an eatery filling the empty unit which was previously The Music Shop.

It eventually adapted to become the micropub which served a selection of popular craft beers.