The firm which owns a historic pub in the heart of a Suffolk village insisted last night that there were no plans to close the venue.

Suffolk-based brewery and pub operator Adnams moved to reassure people in Laxfield of its dedication to the King’s Head after it emerged the current landlords would be leaving the pub.

The group’s statement has come after fears were raised that the establishment could be abandoned. This led to Laxfield Parish Council looking into the possibility of registering the pub as an asset of community value.

The pub, also known as the Low House, is one of a few pubs remaining in the United Kingdom that has no bar-counter, with a traditional tap room still operating for customers to purchase drinks from.

If the pub is registered as an asset of community value by Mid Suffolk District Council, the community will have six months to put together a bid to buy it, if it was to come up for sale.

It is on the agenda to be discussed at Monday’s parish council meeting.

Nick Woodhead, clerk to the parish council, said: “This has been raised by a councillor – his concern is based largely on rumour within the village which has been created by the knowledge that the present tenants have handed in their notice.

“If required the asset would be a short-term insurance policy which can buy time for the parish council or a group of interested villagers should the unthinkable happen and there’s any possibility of the pub not continuing to be a licensed premises but developed in another way.”

A spokeswoman for Adnams said the firm “actively supports” the idea of the pub being listed as an asset.

She added: “The King’s Head is open as normal. The current landlord and landlady have given their notice and we’re actively recruiting for new tenants and currently have no plans to close the pub.

“We actively support the pub being listed as an asset. We do want to keep it as a pub.”

Yesterday, no one from the pub was available for comment.