I thin we can take The Butlers bell out of the discussion, it's a a spoons, it will do well - they can buy in such bulk quantities, and make such a profit on food and drink it will survive. I'm pretty sure if we ever suffer a nuclear apocalypse there will still be spoons opening the next day for breakfasts of disappointing bacon and microwaved toast to feed the cockroaches...
See also Bella Italia (on indeed KFC) - by rights any Italian (or fast food chicken place) that runs out of pizza (or chicken - as happened to us last weekend) shouldn't still be going but they are parts of massive corporate companies so they will keep going unless the market shifts. Pizza Express is in this bracket too (my last experience there was less then express).
As it is, any independent going concern needs to keep an eye on every spinning plate - Pie and ale's prices had risen £2 pound in a year or so, from a branded, recognized pie to a non branded pie - they weren't bad, but what seemed like excellent value for £5.95 didn't quite seem to be for £7.95, top that with sometimes cold rooms, and a general feeling there wasn't the same care and attention lavished as previously - if you make a big thing about having the owners around, and then they arn't, people notice. If you start posting regularly on a forum, or on twitter, or on Facebook in order to engage customers, and then you stop, people will notice. As a rule people have short memories, and the new, shiny thing will take their attention- or a cut back in finances e.g. why go to Pie & Ale and spend £7.95 each, when we can get 2 x pie minister pie for a £5 from Sainsbury's and some local ale and we won't even break a tenner...
I'm not saying I wont miss it, I went a lot when it first opened, and as time went on, mainly just the functions, or live music nights etc - and it's a shame town has lost a decent function venue, but my main hope is it doesn't stay empty for too long...