Villagers left angry and pub owners baffled as publican near Bedford suddenly shuts up shop without warning

Publican Dan Sullivan closed the Star & Garter in the village seven weeks ago and residents are desperate for answers.

One unhappy Silsoe villager, who wanted to remain anonymous, told us: "One month, there was no beer. Month two, there was no staff. And by month three, there was no food.

"We've gone from a thriving business to quite literally nil."

He added: "The previous licensee ran it for 26 years and made a lot of money. It's the last remaining village pub and it has now closed. Between 50 and 60 people have contacted the area manager but there has been no definite action."

A spokesperson from Ei Publican Partnerships, the company which owns the High Street pub, confirmed: “The Star & Garter, Silsoe is currently closed."

But added: "We expect the pub to be open and trading and are attempting to contact the publican to discuss the situation.”

Even reviews on TripAdvisor don't show the new licensee of the pub in a favourable light, with two reviewers highlighting the closure.

One who visited in October said: "This is a place I frequent a lot (it) has been taken over by new people (I) went for a meal with friends and the food was cold/not cooked properly/or burnt everyone was very disappointed as always had good food and service before they might need to be more organised."

While another said: "When we visited they didn't even have any draft lagers. We tried again a few weeks later thinking it might have got better but if anything it had got even worse, this time they didn't have any wine in stock and we weren't made very welcome."

Others said it was the "worst food ever had in my life", "terrible food and bad service", "rough pub, best avoided".

But some reviewers were more charitable, with one saying in October: "Star & Garter is brilliant. Under new management, with Dan and Vicky doing an excellent job with absolutely delicious food, great music and a superb atmosphere."

And another in June commenting that, although it was scruffy, "the welcome was very friendly and there is the usual pub fare available and a good range of beers and wines at reasonable prices."