A POPULAR waterside pub has shut after the current landlords walked away from a new lease.

The Eagle and Sun in Hanbury Road, Droitwich, has closed its doors just months after a multi-million pound canalside restoration project was finished, in a boost to the area’s tourism industry, right on the pub’s doorstep.

Rob and Sarah Woolgar said they had to take the difficult decision to walk away from the pub after failing to agree new terms with landlord Enterprise Inns, which wanted to charge a higher rent.

Mr Woolgar said: “The lease had come to an end and we were going to re-negotiate a new lease.

“The terms that landlord Enterprise Inns gave us were not favourable to us and in the end we decided it was too much of a risk to us.

“They wanted a very high rent and in the current environment, we felt a low rent would have been sensible.

“Unfortunately, we had to finish trading, and we shut a few weeks ago.

“I dare say there will be a new owner coming in shortly. We enjoyed it, and we wanted to thank all our customers.”

Its closure was greeted with sadness by Droitwich Waterways (PM) Trust, which believes the pub is in a key location to reap the rewards of higher numbers of boating visitors to moorings at nearby Hanbury Wharf.

The recently re-connected canal ring, formally re-opened last summer, joins the Worcester and Birmingham canal at Hanbury Wharf next to the pub, allowing boaters to cruise a 22-mile circuit.

Pam Davey, waterways trust chairman, said: “I’m disappointed the pub has had to close. Its position means it’s quite a valuable asset to the canal ring, so we hope the situation will be resolved soon.”

Margaret Rowley, fellow trust member and district councillor for Hanbury Wharf, said: “There aren’t many businesses on the canal but the pub is a key one and I was surprised to hear it had shut.”

Pub reviewers commenting online as recently as last month praised the pub for its carvery.

The pub had last year held charity events for the Stoke-on-Trent based Caudwell Children charity.

Nobody at Enterprise Inns was available for comment.