FEARS that Newton Abbot’s popular Taphouse pub will be closing have been quickly quashed.

Beer lovers were anxious about the watering hole’s future after it was announced today that Tuckers Maltings would be closing after 118 years in the town.

But officials at the pub reassured punters that its doors would remain open for business.

A spokesman said: ‘We at the Taphouse are hugely proud and honoured to share such an amazing, unique, building and can say that we will be continuing to function as a bottle shop and pub despite the closure of Tuckers Maltings.’

Tuckers Maltings, only one of four malt houses in the country, will halt production in September and stop supplying customers in October.

The shock closure has been blamed on difficulties staying competitive in today’s modern market.