Lamb Inn mystery solved

The Lamb Inn, in The Square and connected to the Punch Taverns group, has been closed for the last three weeks with no explanation. It has now come to light that the pub is in administration.

Ranjit Bajjon, partner at Atherton Bailey insolvency practice, Worthing, said that the figures are still being counted. She said: "The main debt is to Punch Taverns, and we are not, at the moment, able to resolve the matter between the two parties."

Angmering Parish Council's public toilets are housed in the pub, leaving tourists and shoppers locked out.

Clerk for the council, Ray Huskisson, said that while the council do have a key for the premises, they are unable to open the toilets. He said: "We have been told that we cannot access the toilets because of an insurance problem." The Parish Council's insurance does not cover members of the public using the toilets.

Ray said: "We are looking at what we can do with our insurance. At the moment the toilets are closed and will remain closed for the foreseeable future."

Administrators are looking to get the pub open again as soon as possible. Ranjit said: "My main concern is to deal with interested parties. Three have expressed an interest and hopefully one party will open the inn."

A creditors meeting is likely to take place in around eight weeks time, 10 weeks after the administration process began.

The Lamb Inn had been run by a father and his two sons for the last 18 months.