Now it’s the live and let die

THE LIVE AND LET LIVE public house in Pirton has been living it up recently. Then early on Tuesday it died a sudden death.Publican George Burton’s retirement party went on into the night but there was no new face to pull the first pint in the morning.

The “Live” has always been a beer house.  Then a little while back it got a wine licence, and from last June it started selling spirits as well.

This extra drink, plus the extra people in the new houses in Pirton, meant extra trade for the “Live” and it was all this extra running about that made George decide to retire at 67 to his family farm.

“Right up to last week I was expecting to hear from Greene King about my replacement.  Then on Friday I heard for certain it was to be closed,” said George.  “It was a very real blow, I was counting on using it as my local.

Family record For the past 35½ years George and his wife, Hilda, have coupled their farm duties with their duties behind the bar, and it is a great wrench for them to leave the “Live” after spending half their lives there. “Its worse for my husband,” said Mrs. Burton.  “After all, the Live and Let Live has been in his family for generations.  His great uncle, Mr Wilshere was licensee for 46 years before we came.  “It is the nicest name for a pub if only they had let it be.”

Uneconomic There were 70 or 80 people at George and Hilda’s farewell party. “It brought tears to George’s eyes,” said one regular.  “I don’t know another pub like it.” The Burtons move out on Saturday for good . . . . . yesterday even the old rubber dart mat was out in the yard in the rain. A spokesman for Greene King said:  “The Live and Let Live was not paying its way.  We have closed it down for economic reasons.  It will be put up for sale shortly.”

Two others Two other Greene king public houses in Hertfordshire have also been closed recently.  They are the New Found Out in Stevenage Road, Hitchin and the George and Dragon at Graveley. The George and Dragon is due to be re-let in a few days’ time but the New Found Out is being renovated following the retirement of Mrs L Barker who has held the licence since 1930. In 1972 it was bought by the church and used as a pest-house for smallpox sufferers.