Punch Taverns has put a Northampton pub up for sale amid concerns over its future from local residents.
The fate of The Rose and Claret in West Hunsbury - the only pub in the area - was thrown into uncertainty after it was boarded up and rumours surfaced that it could be demolished to make way for housing.
A spokeswoman for Punch Taverns explained to reporters at the weekend that the pub site had been boarded up for security reasons while the company weighs up the pub's future.
"Nothing is confirmed at this stage but the pub is on the market," she added to the Northampton Chronicle and Echo. "However, we are also exploring other options which would allow it to continue as a pub and if somebody came forward looking to run the site we would be keen to talk to them."
Local councillor Paul Varnsverry further commented that he'd prefer the site to be used for a "community-type facility" than extra housing for the area. A pub or family restaurant "would bring new employment and new services", he noted.
In other news from the hospitality sector, reports that Norfolk-headquartered company London Town is set to go through a pre-pack administration process have seen shares in the firm plummet.
The debt-ridden business was established as a pub operator over three years ago when it bought nearly 170 outlets from property developer Jack Petchey. 
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