The Heathlands, in Foxhall Road, is to close its doors for the last time on April 20.

Regulars believe the site is likely to be bulldozed, but pub owner Orchid will not confirm this.

One drinker said both Tesco and Sainsbury’s have been mentioned as possible developers of the site – but whatever happened regulars had been told last orders would be called next month.

The threat to The Heathlands comes just weeks after it was confirmed Sainsbury’s Local is to develop a new store out of The Golden Key in Woodbridge Road.

Tesco was given permission to build an extension to The Emperor in Norwich Road to turn it into a neighbourhood store.

Ipswich MP Ben Gummer has been supporting groups trying to keep pubs open and said it was vital that pubs became real hubs for the communities they serve.

Borough councillor Sandy Martin said: “It always seems quite a busy pub when I go in there.

“There are quite a lot of pubs in that part of the town but they can do well by doing things very well – whether is serving good food, or just becoming a very welcoming community pub. This is disappointing news.”

Paul Kotrys, property director for The Orchid Group said: “Following a lengthy and detailed review it was decided The Heathlands would not be a financially sustainable pub business going forward and we made the difficult decision to place the business on the market.”

He said there had been no contact with Sainsbury’s about the future of the site.

The borough council has said at present there had been no application to convert the site to a supermarket.