A pub that became the ‘star’ of hit series Doc Martin has been forced to shut after bosses blame Labour’s minimum wage rises on making it impossible to stay open. 

The Golden Lion in Port Isaac – better known to fans of the hit ITV show as the Crab & Lobster – closed suddenly last Friday evening with staff apparently told just an hour before that their jobs were gone.

Managers said they had been left with no choice after constant hospitality cost pressures left them without enough cash to make it through the winter

It’s a stark difference for the pub – owned by St Austell Brewery – which in 2019 was reported to be turning over more than £1million per year thanks to the TV fame of Doc Martin and the Fisherman’s Friends film.

Locals and holidaymakers in the Cornish seaside town this week told the Daily Mail they were staggered the pub hadn’t managed to stay open as the show still brings thousands of tourists a year even after filming ended in 2022.

One resident who didn’t want to be named said: ‘It’s a very, very sad situation, that pub is iconic for the village.

‘It’s heartbreaking for the locals and sad for the village as a whole.

‘If you are of a certain age and grew up in the village you almost certainly worked there, starting out at pot wash and working up to serving customers was a rite of passage.

Locals and holidaymakers in the Cornish seaside town this week told the Daily Mail they were staggered the pub hadn’t managed to stay open as the show still brings thousands of tourists per year even four years after filming ended in 2022

A pub that became the ‘star’ of hit series Doc Martin has been forced to shut after bosses blame Labour’s minimum wage rises on making it impossible to stay open

The Golden Lion in Port Isaac – better known to fans of the hit ITV show as the Crab & Lobster – closed suddenly last Friday evening

In 2019 the pub was reported to be turning over more than £1million per year thanks to the TV fame of Doc Martin and the Fisherman’s Friends film (pictured) 

‘But it’s a sign of the times that things are becoming very hard for businesses, there is nobody in the village today and it’s really expensive to go out.

‘It’s not like it used to be. The whole demographic has changed. It’s just sad.’

Ben Hutchings who manages The Slipway Hotel and Restaurant opposite the now closed pub said: ‘We weren’t expecting it to close on Friday.

‘I can’t see how it was struggling on its own because everybody that comes here to visit seems to go in.

‘Hospitality is facing massive challenges at the moment, it is very seasonal here and it’s difficult this time of year.

‘People still love the show and come from all over the world, especially Australia, New Zealand and the USA, they can’t get enough of it.

‘A lot of our guests that stay are into it and will go on the tours and see the locations including the Golden Lion.’

Neighbours said as well as being a regular location for filming of Doc Martin between 2004 and 2022, cast and crew would regularly spend evenings drinking in the Golden Lion.

Nick Goad, who owns nearby Harbour Treats said: ‘I know a lot of locals are going to miss it, it’s normally really busy in there.

‘It is going to be a loss for the village as it’s an important landmark that has featured in Doc Martin and Fisherman’s Friends.

‘Doc Martin is still a very popular thing in the village and brings a lot of American visitors, and a lot of them go and get a drink in the pub because they have seen it on the show.

‘I really hope it gets taken over and re-opens as soon as possible because it’s an important part of the village.’

Anne-Marie and Grant Doncon had visited Port Isaac from Australia

Ben Hutchings who manages The Slipway Hotel and Restaurant opposite the now closed pub

Nick Goad, who owns nearby Harbour Treats said: ‘I know a lot of locals are going to miss it, it’s normally really busy in there.’

An average of four pubs per day have gone under since the start of the year. This follows over 1,100 pub and restaurant closures recorded in 2025.

Martin Perkins, 55, a Port Isaac resident since 2003, said: ‘When I first moved down here the Golden Lion was great.

‘There was the young and old and everything in between going there and it was a great community pub. One of the great things about living in a small village is everybody looks out for each other.

‘Unfortunately they’ve concentrated on appealing to tourists rather than looking after the community.’

Anne-Marie and Grant Doncon had visited Port Isaac from Australia said: ‘Doc Martin is a big thing in Australia, people still watch it.

‘You think there’d be a lot of people wanting to drink in the pub, it’s in a gorgeous spot.’

As well as the Golden Lion three other local pubs – The Pityme Inn at St Minver, the London Inn in Padstow and the Lugger Inn in Polruan – all suddenly closed.

Jason Black, director of Cornish Inns which manages all the closed pubs said: ‘Cornish Inns has been part of my life since 2018. Together we navigated Covid, lockdowns, supply shortages, rising energy prices, increases in the minimum wage and the constant cost pressure facing hospitality.

‘Over the last few months I have explored every possible option to keep the businesses trading. We have reduced costs wherever possible, worked closely with the brewery and looked at every possible way to strengthen our position.

‘Unfortunately, winter trading has continued to impact cash flow and there is not enough capital left to continue safely and responsibly.’

Andrew Turner, Chief Operating Officer, St Austell Brewery, said: ‘We can confirm that four leased and tenanted pubs in our pub estate in Cornwall are temporarily closed. We recognise how important pubs are to their local communities, and decisions like this are never taken lightly. We continue to support our business partners, who operate the pubs independently, and will provide a further update as soon as we are able to do so.’