WHAT'S HAPPENED AT STONES

Stones regulars were a bit puzzled this morning to find their favourite watering hole still shut up at midday - with no signs of life. I eventually found a rather shell-shocked Brian Galbraith (left) who explained that the situation had developed completely out of the blue. He thought he had an understanding with his landlord (and shareholder) about all the financial arrangements for the premises involving the rent and a loan for equity swap. He was actually waiting for the latest financial statement. WHAM - suddenly last night the bailiffs broke in and changed the locks - claiming that an amount of rent was overdue by 14 days. There have been strong indications that another prospective tenant had been trying to get their hands on the property and it looked very much to Brian as if a technicality was being used to get him out. Absolutely no warning had been given that anything was in the offing. And this is the time of year when trade is picking up as the tourists return. It all defies belief. Things are obviously in the hands of solicitors but having been faced with this situation Brian moved along the street this morning and is already well into a negotiation to move the whole STONES package - the name, the staff, the service, the menu and above all the craic -down the road to another pub. Great news for his regulars. Stand by for developments.

Couldn't have come at a worse time for Brian - in the middle of an election campaign. He has been making some pretty tough comments recently about the need for employment in the town and expressing his views very forthrightly about the performance of the local councils. There surely can't be any connection

OXFORD MAIL TAKES UP BRIAN'S STORY

Mr Galbraith, 62, who has been a town councillor for the past four years, freely admits he owes his landlords between 4,000 and 5,000 and that legally he "might not have a leg to stand on". The locks have been changed after bailiffs took possession of the bar and yesterday Mr Galbraith was talking to his solicitor and seeing if there were alternative premises in the town to move his business to. He said: "It's a shame for our regulars. It's a good town talking-shop, a place for a bit of craic. This came as a complete shock and I certainly didn't want it while standing for re-election to the council.

"More important, there are four other people, bar and kitchen staff, and several part-timers, who are out of work." Mr Galbraith is a Chippy First independent councillor and the bar has become the meeting place for other candidates to talk tactics and enjoy a pint or two.

Customer Dick Palmer, of Webb Crescent, Chipping Norton, is the manager of the Thresher's off-licence in nearby Moreton-in-Marsh and delivered wine to the bar last Monday. He said: "Early on Tuesday morning the bailiffs moved in. I'm just shocked, surprised and disappointed, like all other regulars. It's a friendly, very pleasant place to be, not cliquey. Some of us will be forced to use other pubs, but Stones is our place, because of its general ambience and friendliness."

Mr Galbraith said: "I was in talks with the landlord's solicitors and admit I owe several thousand pounds in back rent. According to the lease, it looks like they're entitled to take the lease back if the rent's unpaid for 14 days. But this is a seasonal trade. We're just coming into the tourist season, when takings go right up and there would be no problem. It's a manageable amount."

The bar's landlord is a firm on the town's Cromwell Business Park, Central Electronic Trading Agency  (CETA). Gemma Hartley, a spokesman for Central Electronic's solicitors, Brookstreet Des Roches, of Witney, said: "This matter is entirely confidential and I doubt whether my client would want to say anything."