Dick Turpin Wickford closure described as a 'gut-punch'

The watering hole’s reputation as a meeting place for petrolheads and biker owes to its “prime” location just off the A127 in Wickford, allowing easy access for ride-outs and car meets, which occur up to four times a week in the pub’s car park.

Members of the pub’s community have spoken to the Echo about their devastation surrounding the decision and about the impact the closure will have.

Charlotte Lake has been organising car meets at the Dick Turpin for two years, forming an all-girl car meet group called Josei Automotives and called the decision “heart-breaking.”

Frequent - Charlotte Lake (Image: Charlotte Lake)

“I was down there three times a month, other members of the group were down there nearly every week for meets,” she said.

“There is nowhere else, I can’t find anyone else who can take our group.

“The staff there are so lovely and so kind, it has broken my heart to see it was going and it was a real safe haven, we would spend hours there until they closed.

“We’ve had people travel three hours for our meets, we had our last on Friday.

“It was really sad for all of us.”

Teri Shaw, who is also involved in organising car meets at the pub, added: “The reason we don’t want to lose the car meet is because it has been going since the 80s, it is a great place to meet and it is a good location.

“We have people travel from all over the place to come to our meets and we don’t want to lose a good pub, one that has been there for decades.

“It’s got a lot of history and is well-known for this, it keeps pubs going.”

Teri added: “Its not just me, it’s a lot of us that feel the same and we don’t want to lose the pub or the meet.”

Harry D’Cruze, added: “It has been a spot for us, it was a big hand to have it here and they have always been so welcoming to us.

“It is a real shame, we are always searching for new places now.”