A former landlady has admitted uprooting flowers from a Nottinghamshire pub, saying she was simply taking back what was hers. Earlier this week Nottinghamshire Live reported that the blooms had gone from window boxes and flower beds and hanging baskets were taken from the World's End in Lowdham.
However, the outgoing licensee, who asked not to be named, said the flowers belonged to her, not the pub owner Marston's, and she'd previously offered to buy them back, offering a "small fee as a goodwill gesture".
She said: "The flowers were replaced twice a year, and each time costing round about £1,000. I offered the current temporary licensee the chance to purchase the flowers, along with other items that belonged to me. They simply declined, so we discussed I would be taking some flowers with me. I am currently in the process of replanting them in my garden."
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When she returned the keys to Marston's on the day she'd taken back the flowers she said there was no mention of the missing blooms. She denied any mess was left behind.
Temporarily licensee James Kemp acknowledged that the woman had asked to buy the flowers but declined since he believed the flowers belonged to Marston's. "We have a pub in Southwell and Marston's fund a lot of things, one thing being hanging baskets, anything to make the pub look aesthetically nice, so I believe Marston's do own them.
"The pub was really proud of the flowers. We care about the pub, we care about the way it looks and we are absolutely distraught that the village has lost a pretty looking pub," he said.
Marston's has been approached for comment.
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