PUNTERS hoping for a pint at a popular pub have been left baffled by its sudden and unexpected closure.

Thirsty patrons were surprised to find The Green Man in Mill Green locked up, the furniture from inside and outside the building removed, and a sign, pictured below, simply saying: “Sorry, we are closed.”

In December, the company that owned The Green Man, Pubs ‘N’ Bars, went into administration, with administrators Grant Thorton keeping the company’s pubs open for as long as they were sustainable.

But it seems last orders have finally been called at The Green Man – at least for now.

Mill Green resident Steve Creswell, a regular Green Man patron, said: “It was a great little pub, especially in the summer because it has such a big garden at the back that a lot of people probably didn’t even know existed.

“I suppose its downfall is that it’s a bit isolated and out of the way.

“I’ll definitely miss those warm summer’s evenings sat out in the garden, sampling all their guest ales though.”

He added: “I just hope it opens again at some point because it would be a great shame if time had actually been called for good on the place.”