FEARS are growing over the future of a Ribble Valley pub after it suddenly closed.

The Brown Cow pub in Chatburn, which dates back to the 18th century, shut its doors recently, leaving villagers concerned about the future of the historic site.

The former farmhouse has served the village for more than 100 years as a pub and has been run by John Ellis, who is originally from London, after he took it over in 2009. The closure of the pub has resulted in the loss of four full-time jobs and a number of part-time positions.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Chatburn Parish Council has agreed to write to Enterprise Inns to ask about the future of the pub.

The company has indicated it is looking for someone to take on the business.

Parish council chairman Paul Whittaker said: “Everybody is very concerned about the future of the pub.

“The tenant ran down his stock and closed up suddenly and now we are left with only one pub in the village. There are not too many other places to go in the area and the Brown Cow has become a firm fixture in Chatburn.

“It also has a car park which people use during the day and people are concerned that it could be lost.

“Car parking is hard at the best of times in the village so this will also have an impact on people.

“We have had no word from the owners and the parish council has agreed to write to the company to ask what’s going on.”

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, who leads the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group, said: “I will get in contact with Enterprise Inns to see what can be done about the future of the pub and make sure that its closure is only a temporary one. Any pub that closes down in the Ribble Valley is a big blow to that community.

“We do not want to see community hubs like pubs shutting down.”

A spokesperson from Enterprise, which owns the pub, said: “We are currently in discussion with a prospective new publican interested in taking on the Brown Cow and aim to have this great community pub back open and trading at the heart of Chatburn as soon as possible. We hope that local residents will visit the pub when it reopens to enjoy the new publican’s hospitality and show their support.”