A newly-refurbished pub in County Durham suddenly closed this week - much to the confusion of local residents. However, the owners of the pub, Star Pubs and Bars, said they were hoping to reopen the pub "as soon as possible".
The Gate, on Beech Road, Framwellgate Moor, closed its doors earlier this week at "short notice". Previously the Happy Wanderer, the pub recently underwent a £450,000 refurbishment and only reopened to the public in February 2022.
However, in a message that was reportedly sent to employees, the operators said the pub was closing "with immediate effect". The closure was reportedly down to a lack of further money to invest.
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The pub previously underwent a huge revamp of both its exterior and interior and became somewhere where sports fans could watch live sports on Sky and BT Sports. It also launched a full-new menu serving "hearty-homecooked food" with plenty of drinks on offer.
Star Pubs and Bars, which is part of the Heineken Group, confirmed the independent operator closed the pub earlier this week "at short notice" but said it was working to get it reopened "as quickly as possible".
A spokesperson for Star Pubs and Bars said: "The Gate, Framwellgate Moor was leased to an independent operator to run as their own business. They closed the pub earlier this week at short notice. We are working to get it reopened as quickly as possible."
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