THE popular landlords of Marlborough's Queens Head pub will call time in April, saying they can no longer afford their "extortionate" rent.

Maria, 50, and Andrew Nash, 54, have decided to shut up shop and end their lease with Punch Taverns, as they cannot take another year of making more losses and paying the annual £34,000 rent.

They have decided to end their stay at the pub in St Martins, which is run by the whole family, in mid-April, much to the disappointment of hundreds of their loyal customers.

"Unfortunately for the last few years the losses have been piling up and we cannot afford to go on," said Mrs Nash who, along with her family, is planning on staying in Marlborough.

"We moved in at the end of 2006 and then signed this current lease in November 2007. Then the recession kicked in and that almost wiped us out financially. We managed to struggle on but the current rents are extortionate.

"In the contract it says we get a 50 per cent share of what we take in but we are seeing very little of that. This is not a partnership. They have not backed down on their unreasonable prices.

"They try to placate you with a barrel of beer now and again but it is not nearly enough. It is time to walk away and say enough is enough. This is happening across the whole industry.

"For a while we were running at a profit and this place was a thriving, bustling pub but things have changed. I assume at some point they will try to find new licensees but this is the end of pub life for us."

When the family broke the news on their Facebook page, hundreds of customers commented how much they would miss the place and thanked the Nash family for their service.

"The response we have had from people has been so touching, we are so very grateful for their support over the years. It has been a fantastic journey," she said.

"We have brilliant customers who are all great company but we cannot keep going for that alone. We are a business and we cannot work like this.

"On behalf of our whole family, thanks for the good times and lasting memories."

The couple, who have a passion for boxing and have a vast array of boxing photos on display, played a part in setting up the town's amateur boxing club in 2012. Before moving to their current Elcot Lane home the club used to box in the pub's function room.

A Punch Taverns spokesman said: "Over a period of two years we have provided significant financial support at the Queens Head by way of rent concessions, discounted drinks orders, free drinks orders and put in place several realistic re-payment plans.

"We have drawn a line under contract breaches and decided not to implement financial penalties for those breaches. We also recently offered a new tenancy agreement with reduced repair liabilities and a reduced rent. We are therefore disappointed that Mr and Mrs Nash have chosen to insinuate that we have not supported them during their tenancy.

"Moving forward we would like to re-assure the local community that we see a positive future for the Queens Head with potential investment and will be recruiting for a new tenant shortly."