Protestors gather outside Clare’s Bell Hotel after staff claim thousands of pounds owed in unpaid wages

A defiant message of ‘pay your staff’ sounded loud and clear outside a Suffolk hotel at the weekend – amid allegations that it owes employees thousands of pounds.

Community members gathered in protest outside The Bell Hotel in Clare on Sunday, after staff members and contractors claimed they have not been paid in months.

The business is accused of owing a total of around £8,000 to staff – many of whom are teenagers – dating back to when it reopened under new ownership in July.

Holding placards aloft for all to see on Market Hill, the peaceful protest garnered support from passing motorists, who sounded their horns in solidarity with the demonstrators.

A local community member, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Free Press that staff at The Bell had reported problems as soon as the business resumed trading.

They said: “In June, the owner began interviewing people to be staff, but they didn’t seem interested in taking National Insurance numbers, and they wanted to pay in cash.

“A few of the staff insisted the money be paid through their bank, but, after a couple of weeks, staff just didn’t get paid.

“A lot of them are youngsters. A lot of them are owed £700 or more.

“Many have left, but there are some new staff in there now who apparently have been paid, to keep the business running.

“We did a protest because we didn’t know what else to do. It was all community members rather than the staff, and it was all done peacefully, so there weren’t any problems.

“We will protest again. It’s difficult to know how to make someone do the right thing.”

The Free Press has contacted The Bell Hotel for comment.

The Bell Hotel in Clare has experienced a turbulent recent history – stemming from a shocking incident in March 2022, when a man attacked another person at the pub with an axe.

The incident resulted in 40-year-old Stradishall resident David Perry being handed a 24-year prison sentence in 2023, following a conviction for attempted murder.

In May 2022, The Bell Hotel suddenly closed, having reported a sharp decline in trade in the aftermath of the attack that occurred within its premises.

Subsequently, in November that year, it was announced that the venue had been taken over by Steven Smile, who also ran pubs in Essex and Hertfordshire.

Mr Smile stated he would invest money into renovating The Bell, with a view to reopening the business, which was received positively at the time within the Clare community.

However, since the premises began trading again in July, claims of unpaid wages have gradually circulated.

Following the protest on Sunday, one community member said: “A group of angry local people fronted The Bell’s entrance, holding up placards and chanted ‘pay your staff’.

“Cars that passed by the busy corner tooted in agreement. The Bell, it seems, is reluctant to pay its bills.

“We hope the current situation is resolved – otherwise there will be plenty more fuss at The Bell, and even the church bells, after which the venue is named, will struggle to drown out the noise of complaints.”

It is understood that some affected staff have engaged with the employment arbitration service Acas.

The trade union, Unite, has also reached out to the hotel’s employees, to offer its support in helping to find a resolution.