EVERYTHING must go - that's the message to drinkers at a village pub, which is holding a “closing down party” tonight.But owners of the Three Mariners at Trimley St Mary have allayed fears that the community is to lose its only pub, and say it will be re-opening shortly under new management.

EVERYTHING must go - that's the message to drinkers at a village pub, which is holding a “closing down party” tonight.

But owners of the Three Mariners at Trimley St Mary have allayed fears that the community is to lose its only pub, and say it will be re-opening shortly under new management.

There had been concern that the pub could go the way of so many village inns and be converted into a house, taking away another vital facility for residents.

With the Hand in Hand in Trimley St Martin only just up the road and three pubs in nearby Walton, there is great competition for customers in the area.

However others believe the Three Mariners could be given a revamp and taken upmarket to provide good food and try for a niche market.

Owner Enterprise Inns are certain the pub is not closing permanently and has plans to re-open its doors as soon as possible.

A company spokeswoman said: “We were aware that the licensees were about to leave and we have plans in hand already and a new tenant should be arriving next week.

“We appreciate how important a pub like the Three Mariners is to the local community and we would like to reassure people that it will not be closed for very long at all.”

Sharon White and Linda Green took over the pub three years ago.

As well as cask ales and other beers, they serve food, and have held monthly quiz nights and fortnightly live music sessions.

Miss White said she did not wish to comment on why she was leaving the pub. She was changing careers and would be staying in the area.

She would not say whether the “everything must go” party simply meant all the drink had to be sold or whether the fixtures and fittings were up for grabs.

The Three Mariners, a grade two listed building, was originally a house and became the pub after it moved from another building on the corner of Station Road.

It is believed to have been named either after three of the crew of Thomas Cavendish, who were staying with their captain at Grimston Hall and would regularly terrorise the village with their brawling and antics, or Cavendish's three ships - the Desire, the Content and Hugh Gallant - in which he circumnavigated the world in 1588.

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