MYSTERY surrounds the closure of a popular village pub.

Wanborough villagers have voiced their disappointment about the demise of popular High Street pub The Harrow Inn.

The boarded-up venue was well known throughout the borough for its live music nights and special Christmas events.

Enterprise Inns, which own the pub, said it hoped to appoint a new landlord in the near future, but declined to comment on why the business has closed.

Karen Patani, from Springlines, in Wanborough, said the pub was a village landmark even though Wanborough boasts five other pubs.

“I am sad to see it go, I used to go to the pub sometimes, it used to be one of the most popular pubs around,” she said.

“Nobody likes to hear that a pub, especially a friendly and happy pub like that, is no longer serving.”

John Silcock, who lives in Upper Wanborough, said Wanborough’s pub trade seemed to be suffering in the earlier part of the year but was improving because of the hot weather.

He said: “I am not sure if it closed because of poor trade but pubs weren’t that well in the beginning of the year.

“I used to go and see live music in The Harrow, it was great for a laugh and it usually had good bands on.

“I was gutted to find out it had shut, it’s really too bad for the village because everyone enjoyed it so much, we have great pubs here in Wanborough.”

The closure of the thatched venue, which dates back to 1637, means only five of the village’s seven pubs are open for business, including the Brewers Arms, The Cross Keys, The New Calley Arms, The Black Horse and The Plough.

However, landlords from the other pubs in the village said that although business had improved because The Harrow Inn was no longer trading, no-one was happy to see it go.

John Cullum, the landlord of The Bakers Arms, said: “We have never been in competition with each other, we are very sad to see it go.

“All the pubs do a different business and appeal to different crowds.

“A lot of people say to me that its closure would be good for business, but I don’t see it that way at all.

“It is one less pub to attract people. Wanborough pubs do well I think because we have so much choice.”

He added that the pub, which was run by Karen and David Gray, shut on May 24, the day before Wanborough Beer Race.

Bill Bendall, the social secretary for the Campaign For Real Ale Swindon, said everyone in his organisation was sad to see the pub go.

He said: “It served a nice real ale, it was one of the best pubs for that in Swindon – that’s why it made it into the Good Beer Guide.”

A spokeswoman for Enterprise Inns said the company was searching for new landlords and only expected the Harrow to be closed temporarily.