TWO of Hexham’s town centre pubs have closed down.

The Tap and Spile on Battle Hill and Coach and Horses on Priestpopple closed their doors to customers last month.

Keith Youngs who took over the Tap and Spile in August last year with sister Yvonne Youngs said the pub had been struggling from day one.

He said: “When we went into the Tap and Spile it very quickly became apparent that it wasn’t working.

“The astronomical rates meant we were unable to keep it afloat.”

A spokeswoman from pub owner Ei Publican Partnerships said: “We can confirm the Tap and Spile is currently shut while it undergoes some essential maintenance and refurbishment. We’d like to reassure the local community that the pub will reopen with a new publican in the very near future.”

The Coach and Horses closed after the previous owners left earlier this year despite plans for a £300,000 investment from owner Admiral Taverns.

A spokeswoman for Admiral Taverns said: “We are drawing up plans with a view to a large-scale refurbishment to bring out the undoubted potential of this exciting venue.

“We are in the advanced stages of the recruitment process of finding potential investors, and we have a few licences lined up, but nothing concrete at the moment.”