A riverside village with just 61 homes is to lose the heart of its community, its pub.
The historic Anchor, in South Fambridge, is to be demolished to make way for more housing.
Owner Ray Flowers, 65, said he had been running the pub at a loss.
It will close on Monday, February 17, when it is sold to Ryan Development, of Eastwood. Mr Flowers said: "I am very sad to have to sell.
"I have owned the pub for 27 years and it has been a real family business but we have been hanging on ever since we started running it.
"We were able to subsidise it for a while, mainly by selling off attached land for development.
"That could only last so long and after hanging on by our fingernails for some time, we have had to let go."
Mr Flowers blamed lack of custom and the size of the building for its losses.
He said: "The pub is very big and there just wasn't enough custom."
Published Tuesday, January 7, 2003
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article