Rent increase leaves Miller of Mansfield's future in limbo

Mary and Nick Galer have said they face being unable to continue operating the Miller of Mansfield in Goring on Thames, Berkshire, in the wake of a rent increase and revised lease term.

The couple have been operating the riverside restaurant with rooms for the past eight years and were shortlisted for the Newcomer of the Year Catey Award. However, in September, a lease renewal was proposed by landlord Stonegate, including an almost 90% increase in rent.

Nick Galer said: "It's been a rollercoaster few months that looks like it'll end with us having to walk away from eight fabulous years of hard graft delivering our passion and vision at the Miller, and as part of the Goring & Streatley community that's also our home and where we've raised our boys."

During their tenure, the venue has also won the Good Food Guide's Readers' Restaurant of the Year.

A spokesperson for Stonegate said: “The lease agreement on the Miller of Mansfield is due to expire and the property will be transitioning to our managed division. We remain in constant dialogue with the leaseholder regarding this transition and will continue to engage in order to enable the necessary direct conversations to take place with the team on site, including both Nick and Mary.

“Our focus will be on ensuring that the pub is able to continue providing the excellent levels of service to customers and community alike.”

Nick Galer previously worked as a sous chef at the Goose in Britwell Salome, Oxfordshire, under 2005 Roux Scholar Matthew Tomkinson, and was opening head chef of Heston Blumenthal's the Crown in Bray, Berkshire.