Pub is up for sale

A Shropshire pub which closed down without warning leaving people stood outside on Christmas day has been put up for sale for £700,000.

The Swan Inn, in the Knowlesands area of Bridgnorth, closed in the week before Christmas and customers were angry they were not told.

Some customers who had paid £118 for Christmas lunch turned up only to be greeted by a locked door and a sign saying the pub was closed.

Agents at Nock Deighton and Colliers Robert Barry said today they had been instructed to sell The Swan on behalf of owners Falcon Investments.

Until a buyer is found, Meg and Rodger King, who have previously run pubs in the Bridgnorth area, will manager The Swan.

David Perrin, of Nock Deighton, said a date had not been set for when it would reopen but it was expected in the next month.

Peter Brunt, of licensed specialists Colliers Robert Barry, said he expected a lot of interest in the freehold business, which had an asking price of £700,000.

Licensing manager at Bridgnorth District Council, Steve Knapper, confirmed the former licensee, Marco Manner, had applied to have it transferred to Mitchell Mountford.

Finnish chef Mr Manner took on the pub on October 16, along with colleague Teppo Harju and manager Robert Moger, but lasted just over two months at the pub.