A busy South Norwood boozer will close its doors later this month ahead of a takeover by one of London's biggest pub chains.

The William Stanley in High Street will serve its last pint on Sunday, March 20.

The JD Wetherspoon watering hole is set to be taken over by Antic, which operates more than 30 pubs across the capital.

In a notice displayed in the pub and later posted online, general manager Nicky Crawford said: "It is with great sadness that The William Stanley will cease trading on Sunday, March 20.

"I would like to thank you all for your loyal custom over the years and hope you will join us on that last weekend, I hope to arrange to events so we can go out with a bang."

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When contacted by the Croydon Guardian, Ms Crawford said she "hadn't finalised anything" for the pub's final weekend, and referred all other questions to the JD Wetherspoon head office.

A spokesman for JD Wetherspoon said it had been a "commercial decision" to sell the pub, although was unwilling to provide more detail.

The William Stanley's 40-odd staff members were told about the closure sometime last week, he said, with all offered jobs in other Wetherspoon pubs.

Last January the company was forced to deny rumours that it was planning to sell the William Stanley, after an online sale listing for the pub was found including the line "Confidential - staff unaware".

The JD Wetherspoon spokesman said that previous denials of a sale would have been given "in good faith", but that the company had "decided differently in the long run".

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Antic’s founder Anthony Thomas could not be reached for comment today.

The group recently re-submitted plans to build a pub in Norbury Mews, after its original application was turned down by Croydon Council - despite more than 150 letters of support from residents in the area.

The William Stanley is named after the 19th century architect, inventor, and founder the Stanley Technical Trades School, thought to be the first vocational school in the country, which is now Harris Academy South Norwood.

He also lends his name to nearby Stanley Halls.

It is not known whether Antic will keep the name of the pub.

Do you drink in the William Stanley? What do you think about the closure? Call the newsdesk on 020 8722 6388 or email daniel.omahony@newsquest.co.uk