The future of a Grade II listed village inn hangs in the balance only months after it was taken over by a new pub chain.

The shutters have gone up on the 16th century Weeping Willow, which Suffolk’s Campaign For Real Ale says is one of the oldest buildings in the village.

Janet Hannant, who lives nearby said men boarding the pub up were unable to say what would happen to it.

“My husband is in a wheelchair and we went over there about once a month,”The previous tenants moved out because they had had enough. They ran it so efficiently.”

She said it was not so easy for her husband to get to the village’s other pub, The Three Horseshoes.

The Weeping Willow was one of 275 pubs Greene King sold to the newly formed Hawthorn Leisure in June for £75.6 million.

Green King called the pubs ‘non-core assets’ as it tries to concentrate on its growing retail sales and ‘further improves the quality and outlook of Pub Partners’ earnings’.

Hawthorn Leisure declined to comment on the pub this week because it was still considering its future.

When the company took over the Greene King pubs,Gerry Carroll, Hawthorn’s chief executive, said: “Hawthorn Leisure’s strategy of supporting and investing in its tenants provides a fantastic opportunity for these pubs.

“Our experienced team is fully committed to working in close partnership with the tenants.“