Increasing costs behind sad decision by owner to close popular Willenhall restaurant

Trevor Dunn made the announcement on Facebook of the decision to close Ye Olde Toll House in Willenhall after 14 years, a decision he said had not been an easy one, with the restaurant having been a popular spot for diners.

The announcement of the closure on February 24 had led to an outpouring of emotion tributes online, with fans and supporters stating how sad they were to see the end of the restaurant, which is within a Tudor-style building and has a unique look and space for 120 diners.

Mr Dunn said that despite his best efforts, the decision to close had been made due to a number of factors around staffing and outside events, but with rising costs being the primary reason.

He said: "This has been a long time coming as we are such a small restaurant and we've been fighting for the same customers in a five-mile radius and I think that if I was in the countryside, I'd be a millionaire because no one else offers the food we offer.

"There's a number of factors into the decision, such as some of the kids who want to come and work don't want to do so forever, while bills are constantly increasing, from the gas to the electricity, then the VAT food costs, so it's just not viable.

"We've had a poor year because of the football, then the six weeks holiday, and we were hoping to do a bit better, but by the time I've paid the staff, we've got no money to be able to maintain the building and the last thing I want to do is start dipping into my own personal funds."

Mr Dunn said he had worked hard following the Covid-19 pandemic to bring in customers, including afternoon teas, breakfast with Santa, Christmas lunches and other events, but said it had become financially unviable for him as he found he was living on less than a normal wage.

He said: "It's a weight off my shoulders in some ways, although I do feel bad to have put members of staff out of work down the line, but I've been working for six months of the year for less than a basic wage and, some weeks, not even getting a wage.

"I've got a family with four kids and I physically can't go another year surviving on £200 a week."

Mr Dunn said the future was uncertain for him in terms of what he did next, but said that he felt that he had made the right decision for him and for his family and offered words of thanks to everyone who had supported the restaurant.

He said: "I've made this decision based on what's right for me and my family and I have no idea what's next, but I'm hoping that my reputation will speak for itself and someone will snap me up and give me what I'm worth.

"I just want to say thank you to all our loyal customers as they have kept coming and kept supporting us, but there's only so much we can do with the same customers week in, week out, so it's time to end."