The Beef and Barge pub in Bradford on Avon has closed after the tenants, three generations of the same family, decided to leave.

Eve and Feri Zambo, their daughter Nikolett and Eve’s parents Anthony and Esther opened the pub in April 2012 after a £90,000 revamp.

It shut before Christmas and it is not clear when it will reopen.

A spokeman for Admiral Tavern, which owns the pub, said: “The licensees will leave the Beef and Barge shortly and we are currently exploring a number of options in order to get the pub open with new licensees.”

Bradford on Avon town councillor Laurie Brown was a regular at the pub and said: “I thought the family that took it over were delightful. They did everything possible to make the business successful but unfortunately because of the downturn in the economy people have less disposable income.

“I hope to see it reopen because it is an asset to Bradford on Avon, which lacks suitable premises with generous parking.”

Tim Burnham, chairman of Bradford on Avon Chamber of Commerce, said: “It is a shame but it is a sign of the times. It is a market that is difficult to tap into.”