Mystery surrounds the continued closure of a village pub.

Frinton and Walton town councillors are concerned the Lions Den pub at Great Holland has not been open for business for some months.

Alan Large, who represents the village, said he knew no more than he had been told by planning officers at Tendring Council.

"The owners have approval to put up a storage building in the back garden behind the car park," he said.

"I do not know what that is for but there has been no application to seek a change of use for the site."

Mayor Nick Turner said there was no requirement for the owners to open up the pub and it could stay closed as long as they liked - provided they did not carry out alterations such as doing away with the bar.

"I have made inquiries and the Lions Den is still a licensed premises," he added.

The Evening Gazette contacted the Lions Den but was unable to unraval the mystery.

A spokeswoman said: "Those people who have been interested and asked have been made aware of what is happening but that is all I want to say at this stage."

Published Tuesday November 5, 2002

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