Staff members at a town pub are expecting a “terrible period” as they prepare to close the venue for good.
It has been confirmed via social media that The White Hart in Swaffham will not be reopening - with the Facebook post stating it is “likely to be the last” online interaction.
It says staff are anticipating “much gossip and Schadenfreude” - a German term referring to people who take pleasure in another person's misfortune.
A few days ago, another post had said that due to an unexpected change to the pub’s management structure, staff would take a few days to decide on their position.
It was therefore closed on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday to give the “stressed team a break”.
The White Hart was still holding family quiz and bingo nights as recently as the start of this month.
However, the recent social media post said: “Sadly, no way forward can be found to reopen The White Hart.
“The future has been, for some time, in the hands of creditors and advisors who all now agree with the business partners that the business cannot continue.
“The high negative side of social media means that there will now be much gossip and Schadenfreude.
“Therefore we ask those people to remember that there are really people behind the closure of a business and we ask people to be mindful of this please.
“Since we re-opened The White Hart in 2017 the business has experienced what is largely agreed as some of the hardest times the industry has ever faced and we tried to face these times with a welcoming smile and happiness.
“We like to think that we have always taken every opportunity to keep the pub as a community pub and helped wherever we can and hope the terrible period we are now about to go through is slightly masked by the thoughts we were able to help people.
“Our thanks go to all those that have supported the business over the years.”
The White Hart started a ‘Hart to Home’ delivery service during Covid pandemic restrictions, covering Swaffham and places further afield such as Oxborough and Watton.
The pub provided meals at a cost of £5 each, while delivery was free.
It had reopened in late 2017 following a long period of closure.