REGULARS at a pub say it’s a “sad day” after their local called last orders for the final time, with the site set to be razed to the ground.
The Bird in Hand boozer in Beck Row, is just a stone’s throw from the RAF Mildenhall base in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, but has now closed for good, the company behind it has confirmed.
A Greene King spokesperson said: “It has been a difficult decision to close The Bird in Hand and we would like to thank all our customers, both local and from further afield, who have visited over the years.
“Our focus now is on supporting our team members at the pub.
“While we know the closure is disappointing for many customers, we hope to welcome them into our other pubs in the area soon.”
Just two days ago, The Bird in Hand advertised its “delicious pub grub” on its social media page.
The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) described the boozer as a 1930s pub with a 57-room motel.
The pub proved to be popular with visitors who gave it a four-star average on TripAdvisor.
A post on the RAF Mildenhall Enthusiast Facebook page said: “Very sad to hear that the Bird In Hand Beck Row next to RAF Mildenhall shut it doors for the last time last night and will be demolished apparently.
“I was told by the pub staff to extend the Exit gate for the base!
“Great Memories from ex RAF Mildenhall personnel & all of us who went there & part of the Air Fete Days now very sadly going.”
When Greene King was approached by The Sun Online about the pub being demolished a spokesperson said there was no further information.
One pub-goer wrote: “SAD DAY for many veterans, active duty and civilians. This is an ICON of Mildenhall. THANKS FOR ALL THE MEMORIES.”
That sentiment was echoed by another comment which read: “Great memories from there!”
While a third said: “I learned to drink Guinness there. My favourite to this day.”
The news comes just days after a bar chain favourite is set to shut down 12 iconic locations – with more at risk.
Revolution Bars confirmed its branch on Torquay’s Fleet Walk in Devon will serve final drinks after nearly a decade.
Meanwhile, Revolution Bars Group said earlier this year that five Revolution venues, five Revolución de Cuba branches and a Playhouse pub were going to wave goodbye permanently.
It comes as Revolution Bar Group announced it may be forced to close 12 of its bars in a bid to shore up its finances, after six shuttered already.
In March, the bar group was reportedly looking at axeing around 20 of its worst-performing pubs.
There was said to be proposals to chop around a quarter of its venues to stay afloat.
Last month, Whitbread Group Plc revealed plans to close more than 200 of its branded locations and axe 1,500 jobs in favour of building more hotel rooms.
Whitbread said it plans to convert 112 restaurants into hotel extensions while closing 126 “loss-making” venues.
It followed reports that Whitbread was looking to speed up plans to sell hundreds of its pubs and restaurants.
Earlier this year, The Sun revealed more than 7,000 pubs are expected to go out of business in the next year, shock polling suggested.
Four in five have seen their profits nosedive as they have fewer customers, the survey found.
To make matters worse, 97 per cent are getting hit with higher bills.
As a result, 16 per cent of pubs, equivalent to 7,248 out of the 45,300 in the UK, say they are likely to close in the next 12 months.
