A CINDERFORD pub landlord says it’s ‘news to him’ that he was closing at the beginning of the month.

Rumours that the Forge Hammer in Victoria Street is closing comes as the Nags Head, also in Cinderford, closed earlier this month.

Landlord Kevin Overson said: “These types of rumours are going around all the time within the pub industry. My wife and I have been here for 10 and a half years now and we have no intention of closing.

“It really is news to me if we are.”

The doors to the Nags Head, in Church Road, shut some two weeks ago.

He added: “We are still very much open and continue to host our entertainment nights on the last Sunday of every month. I expect soon the rumours will say another pub in the area will close imminently.”