The owners of a popular Northampton town centre pub have issued a statement after it closed suddenly earlier this week.

The landlords at The Mail Coach announced on Monday July 20 that it had closed temporarily "due to circumstances outside of our control".

In a message shared on social media, the Derngate pub said: "We would like to apologise for our sudden departure, and express our gratitude to each and every individual who we have had the pleasure to have served over the years.

"Hopefully the doors will re-open sooner rather than later, but there may be some fresh faces behind the bar. Thank you, once again. Zak and The Mail Coach Team."

The Mail Coach closed suddenly this week. Stonegate, the brewery which owns the pub, said the venue will reopen under new management,

placeholder image — The Mail Coach closed suddenly this week. Stonegate, the brewery which owns the pub, said the venue will reopen under new management,

Reacting, one customer wrote: "I'm so sorry this has happened. Zak has been an excellent manager of this pub, it's invariably busy with good food. A proper local in the middle of town, very popular with a very comfortable friendly atmosphere."

Another added: "Very sad to hear that hopefully we'll see it open again soon – very good pub."

A third said: "My son and his Derngate staff mates were perplexed and sad. Only pub worth visiting in Northampton."

The pub’s owner, Stonegate, has since issued a statement to the Chronicle & Echo saying the boozer will reopen under new management.

A Stonegate spokeswoman said: "The Mail Coach will be closed for a short period while we prepare the pub to reopen under new management. We look forward to reopening the doors and welcoming guests back very soon."