There’s been heartbreak near Haslemere as a much-loved couple have announced they’re calling time at the bar.

Nick and Becky Tom are among the longest-serving landlords in East Hampshire as the former took over the Prince of Wales in Hammervale 15 years ago.

But the couple announced last week that they’ve handed in their notice and will be departing due to personal reasons at the end of April.

Nick has spent much of his working life in the hospitality industry and was just 18 when he ran his first pub.

He took over the Prince of Wales in 2011 with Becky joining him behind the bar five years later, with the rural watering hole becoming a regular in the Good Beer Guide.

“Because we’re a small pub we’re a small community, you get to know all your regulars, said Becky.

“You end up becoming friends with them more so than just being customers.”

This was reiterated by Nick, who called their customers “our own little community”.

As they prepare to leave the pub life behind, Nick reflected on what he considered most important over the last decade and a half.

He said: “There’s no big secrets. It’s good beer, good food, honest food.

“When you deal with a small community like this, you care, and it’s your business, you care about everything and you worry about everything.

While there’s been plenty of positive moments, Becky has admitted there’s been a few hardships with the increased cost of living having an impact.

She said: “It’s definitely a lot harder now than it has ever been and people don’t have the money to spend.

“Pubs like this, you have to keep putting your prices up, you outprice yourself and people can’t afford to come to you anymore.”