A pub company has vowed to keep the King Alfred’s Head in Wantage open amid ongoing discussions with the landlord.

Punch Taverns told the Oxford Mail it was committed to the Market Place pub despite rumours it was to close. A Facebook page statement said the pub, which features in this year’s Campaign for Real Ale Good Beer Guide would close on Thursday, March 8.

But a Punch Taverns spokesman said: “We are in discussions with the landlord about the future of the pub.

“However we are committed to keeping the pub open and trading.”

Landlord Tim Weekes was not available for comment.

Neil Crook, chairman of White Horse CAMRA, said: “With more than 16 pubs closing down each week nationally, CAMRA is very concerned about the negative effect the high beer prices and rent being charged by large pub companies to landlords is having in these straitened economic times.”