The Rising Sun to change hands again as publicans step down ‘with heavy hearts’
The publicans of The Rising Sun in Hurley High Street have wished a fond farewell to punters after announcing they will be leaving the historic pub at the end of the year.
Built around 1830, the English country pub is a favourite with walkers, ramblers and boaters.
The venue has undergone changes in management in recent years.
In September 2024, the pub suddenly closed and then re-opened under new operators.
Now the current team running The Rising Sun, Lindsay Maitland and Michael Airlie, are also moving on with ‘heavy hearts’.
Announcing their departure on The Rising Sun Facebook page, the pair said: “Sadly the time has come to let you know that our time in Hurley is coming to a close at the end of this year.
“We would first like to say that this decision has not been made lightly and has taken weeks of conversation and deliberation between us all.
“We love this pub and have always put our heart and soul into running the heart of our community as best we can, both when it hasn’t been our own business and whilst it has been.
“We are also, as is the same with many other publicans, feeling the financial strain of the industry.
“With the rising cost of rent, beer, food, not to mention all of the other things that make the business tick on the rise, we are growing more and more strained as a team and a young family.”
The pair remembered the first time they ‘came to the aid of this beautiful pub’ on another New Years Eve.
“Lindsay, having been told she was running the pub alone for the evening, called Mikey for support and the night that followed gave way to the incredible last few years with you all making Hurley our home,” they wrote.
“Given how our story started here, we felt it fitting that we leave in the same way we started, seeing the new year in with you all.
As such, the pair’s last evening with the community as landlady and landlord will be New Year’s Eve to see in 2026 before they move on with the next chapter of their lives.
“We would like to thank you all for your unwavering and continued support over the years, especially at the points of huge uncertainty and adversity for us.
“This village and pub have been a wonderful home to us all as a family since we came here and Hurley will always have a special place in our hearts.”
They added: “With that being said, we’re not done yet. We still have the rest of 2025 being your local landlords and we are gearing up for our best summer yet.
“Let’s make the rest of 2025 count and make Hurley village pub the place to be.”
The Rising Sun is currently listed as ‘under offer’ on the website of the Stonegate Group, owners of the venue.
Yearly turnover is anticipated to be £591,341 (increased from last year, when it was £527,763).
Guide rent per week has also gone up, from £769 last September to £975 now.
A spokesperson for Stonegate pubs said: “The publicans at The Rising Sun, Hurley are leaving due to personal circumstances and we are actively recruiting for new publicans. It remains a Stonegate site.”
