PUB owners have called for their local community to rally around them as they face mounting financial pressures, claiming the latest Budget will cost them £15,000.

The Forester in Donhead St Andrew, a rural village near Shaftesbury, has taken steps to drive revenue by introducing homemade pizzas, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free meals and “clean eating” options, plus a healthy children's menu.

It has also started to offer overnight packages in its refurbished rooms for romantic getaways or peaceful retreats in the countryside.

But the owners are struggling to cope with rising financial costs, citing the government's Autumn Budget and rising costs from its suppliers.

In October, Chancellor Rachel Reeves pledged to knock a “penny off a pint” in pubs with a 1.7 per cent draught duty cut – but some publicans have said a rise in the national minimum wage and an increase in employer's National Insurance contributions will only make things worse.

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Debbie Lewis, marketing director at Country Inns, said: “We’re in love with this pub, and we’re in love with our community. But the financial pressures are real, and we can’t ignore them.

“The last Budget alone will cost us an extra £15,000 a year, and that doesn’t even include the price hikes we’ll face from our suppliers.

“It’s been a tough time for many small businesses, and we’re no exception.”

Debbie has appealed for customers to put forward their own ideas for the pub and says the team is committed to staying open.

“We want to hear what you think will help us bring even more life to this beautiful space,” she said.

“After all, we’re here for you.”