Tony Dibbens became the owner of Gibraltar Gardens, a pub located in Heigham Street, on January 10 of this year, as it was his late mother’s favorite pub during her visits to the city. However, this seemingly idyllic situation has turned into a nightmare, as pub company Stonegate served a notice for Mr. Dibbens and assistant manager Liam Reynolds to vacate the premises by November 17. While both men acknowledge that they will not be able to continue trading, they are fighting to stay in their homes on the premises.
On November 3, Mr. Dibbens and Mr. Reynolds received the news that they were being shut down because the agreement they had with Stonegate was no longer viable. Both men live at the pub, and Mr. Reynolds lives there with his fiancé and two children. Stonegate Pub Partners has listed the pub’s availability at a guide rent of £807 per week. However, Mr. Dibbens has stated that he has 20 years of experience as a property manager and knows that Stonegate cannot evict them from their home.
Gibraltar Gardens has a long history, as it was established in 1470 alongside the River Wensum, and then became a public house in the early 1700s. The building was made a grade II listed building in 1954, and it closed from the end of 1999 to March 2000 for extensive renovations. The couple who took over the pub in December 2019, Jason and Julia Carter, left in January 2023, with Mrs. Carter saying “it seems pubs are a dying trade” as they compete with cheaper prices at supermarkets and chains such as Wetherspoons.
Mr. Dibbens has stated that the news of eviction has had a negative impact on his health, but he is determined to fight it and remain at the site for as long as possible. Stonegate has served a notice to leave, stating that the pub is not for sale but is available on a five-year fixed-term tenancy arrangement. However, Mr. Dibbens insists that he and Mr. Reynolds will not leave their home, even though they won’t be able to continue trading at the pub. They remain committed to staying at Gibraltar Gardens.
