THE Golden Lion Inn in Cinderford High Street has now joined the ranks of pubs in the town to call time on business.

Regulars at the lively bar turned up on Friday last week to be greeted by a pavement notice board saying ‘come and join us for our last night tonight’.

Landlord Darryl Collins-Norris, with his wife Terri and parents Kelvin and Sue, has run the pub for the last seven years.

He has has said for some time that he was planning to close, probably in January, but the move still came as as shock to some.

Mr Collins-Norris said: “It was a very hard decision to make but trade has been down for some time and I have family commitments and other personal issues to consider, so it had to be done.

“I have been on the High Street in Cinderford for 12 years now, with seven years here and five years before that at the Swan.

“I really don’t think it will be closed for that long. I would love to see someone taking it over as a pub and I think it is very much do-able.

“It needs a new pair of eyes and a new pair of hands but just not mine.

“From now on I will be concentrating on my installations business with double glazing, doors and other domestic items.”

A member of the bar staff said: “We knew it was coming sometime, but It still came as a bombshell to us.

“We only found out on Friday afternoon. It is very sad. It’s been a great place to work and we have some lovely regulars.”

One regular customer, Mr James Kilgour, said: “We all knew it was on the cards but we never expected it to be this sudden.

“The Lion is a real local pub with its own sense of community and atmosphere. It will be almost impossible to replace.

“We can only hope that someone will take it over as a pub. I think it’s still a viable business proposition.”

Cinderford Mayor Max Coborn said: “It is a great shame to see one of the very few remaining town centre pubs close. It takes some of the heart out of the town.

“I really hope someone takes it over to run its as a pub rather than as a restaurant. We have enough food outlets in the town.”

Other pubs to have closed in the town in recent years include The Royal Forester, the Woodlands and the Swan, which has since reopened as the Fern Ticket.