'The King is Dead': Northampton rock bar announces permanent closure

The King Billy Rock Bar has announced its permanent closure.

A Northampton rock bar and live music venue has announced the lockdown this Thursday will also mark it's last day of business.

The King Billy Rock Bar will permanently close on Thursday ahead of the second national coronavirus lockdown set to begin on November 5.

It marks the final blow for the venue, which prided itself on hosting live music and bands more than 300 nights a year.

The bar has suffered under Covid-19 restrictions that prevented it from holding live music nights.

It comes after bar manager Andy Green - who has been at the pub for over 25 years - spoke to the Chron in October about the Billy's troubles.

He said: "We're in the same situation as so many other grass music venues.

"Every year we have more than 300 bands play which we obviously can't have now

"We could never have imagined something like this."

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the pub's team asked for customers to visit and "drink the Billy dry" and bid the venue farewell.

Heartbroken locals and customers replied to the post to let the team now they would miss the Billy.

One customer, Stephen Hubbard, wrote: "Devastating news we have had so many fantastic nights at the Billy and the one thing I have missed more than anything else during this lockdown."

Another wellwisher, Jane Cooke, said: "Terrible news. Where are we going to go for our rock music locally? This is the best rock pub ever.

"I've only been coming here for about 14 years but it's been a big part of my life since then. So sad. I've met some great people and seen some awesome bands."