Mystery surrounds the future of a prominent pub in Beeston which local businesses believe to have suddenly closed. The Cricketers has served the local community for more than 55 years - but according to local residents and business managers the pub appears to have shut its doors, and it's unclear why.
The Wollaton Road venue has been open since around 1965 but has changed hands numerous times in recent years, facing periods of closure while it searched for a new tenant. Now neighbouring businesses say the establishment is thought to have closed again.
Mark Griffiths, 41, who manages the Commercial Inn, opposite The Cricketers, said: "It's probably been closed around three to four weeks. He [the former tenant] popped in to say he was leaving the week before but he didn't say why.
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"We only spoke occasionally, if there was any trouble at the pubs. But other than that I don't know." Mr Griffiths also noted that the car park of The Cricketers was now being used by local residents heading into the town centre, with no current restrictions stopping them from parking there.
Other nearby businesses have also spotted the apparent closure. Andrea Ledda, 24, who owns Compà in Wollaton Road, which serves up Sicilian street food, added: "It's been closed for about four weeks. Maybe one Friday or Thursday, it just shut suddenly but I don't know more than that."
But some in Wollaton Road hadn't noticed the closure. Workers at Capones Hairdressing said they weren't aware of any changes. The Cricketers pub itself has had a turbulent time in recent years.
Trevor Howell took over the pub in January 2019, vowing to transform it into a place for families and "decent people". After a successful stint, he departed in July 2020 much to the sadness of many punters, who described him as "one of the best landlords ever".
The Cricketers was then under new management and remained a spot frequented by some local drinkers. But not all locals say they are surprised by the venue's apparent closure. One Beeston resident, who asked not to be named, said: "Back when I was younger, there were a lot more pubs and people used to go out and around the local pubs, but there aren't many locals left anymore.
"It's not the sort of pub you go with the family, it's the sort of place where I think everyone knows everyone." Nottinghamshire Live visited the pub on May 4 at midday to find no sign of closure but it wasn't open at the time.
The car park remained full of vehicles and there was no sign up to suggest the pub wouldn't be opening at 2pm as it usually would on any given Thursday. The pavement board at the entrance of the pub car park had been knocked over.
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