A Watford pub that had its licence suspended after a flood of complaints from its neighbours will close at the weekend, its owner has said.

Champions Bar, in St Albans Road, had its licence suspended for 12 weeks by Watford Borough Council at a meeting earlier this month.

Neighbours claimed noise and rowdy patrons had made their lives a misery, leading Hertfordshire Constabulary to call for the pub’s license to be revoked.

Craig Daniel, who has a long-term lease agreement with Enterprise Inns, confirmed today that he was appealing against the ruling - meaning he could stay open until after a court hearing - but said he would close the pub for an indeterminate period from Sunday while a potential sale was negotiated.

Mr Daniel, who has been a publican for some 25 years, said he had "had enough" and wanted to pursue other business interests.

Much of the noise and disturbance reported in recent months, he argued, was not caused by his customers.

He said: “It’s hard enough making money in the pub business as it is, with the smoking ban and all that stuff without this.

“This has cost me almost £5,000 in legal fees in one month. It is time for me to take a walk; if that means me closing to the public for five months or eight months then that is what I will do.”

Mr Daniel, who was transferred the pub's day-to-day running to a different licensee since the hearing, added that he was in advanced discussions to sell the business.

Councillor Steve Rackett, who previously described the premises as “appalling”, welcomed the news. He said: “I think the community out there will welcome a change in ownership. Losing a pub temporarily is the price that we’ve got to pay for getting somebody in there that can run a business alongside the local community.”

Enterprise Inns declined to comment any further on the story.