A PUB and carvery has been closed and placed on the market for sale.

Speculation over the future of the Duke of Wellington on the Grane Road in Haslingden began after metal sheets were bolted to the windows and doors of the pub over the weekend.

Locks and barriers were also placed around the car park to stop unwanted guests from entering, causing further curiosity over what was going on with the popular venue, which had operated as a Toby Carvery.

Now bosses at Milton Pubs, a national investment firm, have confirmed that the building has been placed on the market.

A spokesman for the company said: “Regrettably the Duke of Wellington has closed. It is unfortunate for the loyal, dedicated staff and customers but we believe that it still offers a good opportunity for the right investor and is up for sale.”

David Stansfield, councillor of the Helmshore ward where the pub is located, said the closure was a ‘sad sign of the times.’

He said: “This will prove to be a great loss for the area. I know there are a lot of people who enjoyed going to the Duke of Wellington and its location meant it was perfect for those who aren’t confident in driving all the way over the Grane Road.

“This is a sign of the times and a sign of the changing world we are living in. Years ago everybody had a local they used to go frequent, but things are different now.

“Many public houses have closed and developing technologies mean people don’t need to leave their homes to socialize all the time.”

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In January, the The Pack Italian restaurant, a few miles down the road from the Duke of Wellington, closed after its owners spent £250,000 on a refurb in 2016.

The Office for National Statistics recently reported that more than a quarter of Britain’s pubs have closed their doors since the turn of the millennium.