The Victoria Tavern in Plaistow known to hundreds of West Ham fans will not re-open when pubs open again properly after the lockdown is lifted.

Relaying a message on a West Ham Facebook group the current pub leaseholder Trudy Wood passed on a message to say: ‘It’s very sad news that The Victoria Tavern is to close. Our lease on the building is expiring, the landlords were going to extend the lease for a few months but has now decided to move building works forward. Our last day on the lease is now the 8th of May.

We are gutted to be leaving the pub which has such great memories. However, the good news is that once this Coronavirus crisis is over, we hope to have new premises in Stratford.. and once again open our doors to our fantastic customers. We want to STOP THE RUMOURS, it is NOT closing because of money worries, because of the London Stadium, or because of the Corona crisis… It purely is because the lease has not been renewed as we were anticipating.. We hope all our friends and customers are staying safe during this difficult time and we hope to see all of you back once we open our new premises.’

In 2016 planning permission to turn the Victoria Tavern was rejected but it appears that the landlords will apply for planning permission again.

The Vic is the latest West Ham pub to close in a long line,  the Boleyn Tavern next to where the Boleyn Ground stood is now covered in scaffolding ready to be turned into a youth hostel while still retaining a bar and restaurant. The Central in Barking Road closed its doors in 2017 to be redeveloped into shops and flats. The Denmark Arms also in Barking road closed its doors in 2018 after failing to make ends meet.

The East Men’s Working Club was closed last year for redevelopment and the West Ham Supporters Club House in Castle Street was also closed due to health and safety issues and lack of financial sustainability.

Pubs including the Greengate (Now a Tesco local, The Castle (now a bookie) and the Prince Albert (Now greengrocers) all closed before West Ham moved out of the area.