The Blue Lion in Broad Lane near The Parks will close on Friday, October 24, after it was sold to developers by its owner Stonegate Pub Company, who could look to turn it into housing. Staff at the pub were notified on Friday, while all of them will be made redundant following the closure.

Records indicate that the pub has been at its current location since at least 1870, and while no parts of the building are listed it has generated a loyal following from punters, with some even going for about 40 years.

The news also came as somewhat of a surprise to landlord and manager Trevor Cook, who said that the pub had been going from strength to strength in recent months.

Mr Cook, who has been in charge of the pub for 12 years, said: “It is a very sad time for us here at the pub. I have lots of customers who have been drinking here for 30 or 40 years and they were very unhappy when we told them we were closing.

“I don’t think there has been thought for the staff or our punters. The ‘bean counters’ at our head office in Luton were obviously offered a sum of money by developers for the pub and they decided to take it.

“It is hard to take because the pub has been going from strength to strength recently. We have now got a reputation for being one of the best places in the area for live music and in the evenings and weekends we are always brimming with people. So much so that some customers are forced to drink in the pub’s garden because there is no room inside! However, it seems it is too little too late.” The landlord also added that it is another blow to pubs in Bracknell as it became the third pub in just more than a year to close. It follows on from the closure of The Bull in the town centre in June last year, which will be knocked down as part of the regeneration, and the Red Lion in High Street, which closed just before Christmas last year to become an American barbecue restaurant.

He added: “We are another pub in the town to bite the dust and it seems to becoming a growing and worry trend in the area at the moment. It is very sad.” The pub’s owners, Stonegate Pub Company, confirmed the pub will close down but refused to be drawn on what the developers would turn the pub into or how much it had been sold for.

In a statement, it said: “We can confirm the premises has been sold and the pub will close on Friday, October 24.”