FANS have been left gutted after a pub just yards away from a Premier League stadium suddenly closed down after 18 years.
The legendary boozer in Leicester was just a stone’s throw from Leicester City’s King Power Stadium but has now slammed its doors shut for good.
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The Counting House, a Grade II-listed gem, was nestled between the Foxes’ home turf and the Leicester Tigers’ Welford Road stadium.
But punters are devastated after the popular pub suddenly closed after 18 years of pulling pints.
The historic boozer, based in Freemen’s Common, was a matchday favourite for footie and rugby fans alike but is now on the market.
It was perfectly located near Morrisons, Nando’s, Maccies and the Odeon cinema.
But now, the future of the beloved haunt hangs in the balance.
WTS Commercial confirmed the shock closure and revealed the site is up for grabs, with the potential to be split up and revamped by eager buyers.
The sprawling Almond Road property sits on 0.38 acres, boasts seating for 110 punters, parking, and even its own accommodation.
An advert for the property read: “The Counting House is a large single-storey Grade II listed detached property of brick construction beneath various pitched and hipped roofs with a tall clock tower.
“The ground floor comprises of an open plan trading area which can accommodate around 60 covers plus a large bar servery.
“There is a further seating area for around 50 covers located in the middle of the building which benefits from a glazed frontage.
“Ancillary areas include customer WC’s (including disabled), catering kitchen with a dumb waiter to the basement and a large basement cellar with an office, staff room, staff WC’s, boiler room, large beer store and various storage areas.
“The private accommodation is located at ground floor level and comprises of two bedrooms, lounge, domestic kitchen, office and a bathroom.”
WTS say they’re accepting rental offers too but only time will tell what becomes of the city landmark.
Offers are now being invited and more information is available online.
But for locals and matchday regulars, it’s the end of an era.
Unfortunately for Leicester City fans who frequent the pub, their team will not be a Premier League club in a few months time.
The Foxes became the second side to confirm their drop back into the Championship on Saturday – joining Southampton in England’s second tier next season.
It marks their second relegation in three years, less than 10 years after winning the Premier League title and the FA Cup.
The pub’s closure is one of many pubs forced to close their doors recently.
Approximately six pubs shut their doors for good every week last year, leading to an estimated 4,500 job losses, according to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA).
The closures come amid pressure from higher borrowing costs and high energy bills for businesses, alongside a continued squeeze on household finances as mortgage and rent costs increase.
Pubs are set to come under further pressure when a raft of cost increases linked to the October Budget, such as higher National Insurance contributions (NIC), and an increase in the minimum wage, come into force in April.
Employers currently pay NICs for most workers earning more than £9,100 a year.
