Pub company denies Northampton local will close... just like King Billy did

There are fears Queen Adelaide pub in Kingsthorpe is at risk of closure after the landlord announced plans to move on.

There are fears the Queen Adelaide Inn, in Manor Road, Kingsthorpe, could face closure in 2018 after its publican Paul Barton called time on 14 years running the pub and. He will hand over the keys next week (November 13).

But while pub company Ei Group, formerly known as Enterprise Inns, has announced it will place the Queen under "temporary management", the future of the historic village local remains unclear.

It comes after the Enterprise-owned King William IV, also known as the King Billy locally, was shut down overnight last Christmas after a three-week period under "temporary management".

King Billy was the third such pub shut by Enterprise since 2012.

A spokesman for Ei Publican Partnerships said: “The Queen Adelaide Inn will be operated under temporary management from next week and we are working hard to find new publicans for the site.

"Anyone, interested in this fantastic opportunity should contact us on 03333 200036.”

However, this has sparked fears in the community that Ei Group will sell the local to real estate developers, just like with the King Billy at the other end of the village.

Local residents have responded by appealing to Northampton Borough Council to register the 18th-century public house as an asset of community value.

This would force Enterprise Inns to consult loyal patrons before attempting to sell and allow the community six months to raise the funds to match any offer made for the pub.

The departing landlord Paul Barton said: “The pub has been here since 1760 and I’m sure it will stay another 150 years.

“I am merely a custodian of the pub, which belongs to the community.

"I'm glad that members of the community are taking steps to protect the pub.”

Paul says he is swapping the Grade II listed pub to set up a new eatery in south-west Spain.

It remains to be seen whether the Adelaide will go the same way as the King Billy, which was named to complete the Queen Adelaide and King William IV pairing who reigned together 200 years ago.