FANS of a beloved A127 pub are mourning the “end of an era” after the Dick Turpin closed its doors for the final time.

Concrete barriers have been placed around the 100-year-old pub this week after bosses at Greene King confirmed it would be shut after failing to turn a profit for three years.

The future of the building - beloved by petrolheads and bikers who meet in its car park - remains unclear after plans by the EG Group to demolish it and build a petrol station where rejected by Basildon Council.

Boarded up - The Dick TurpinBoarded up - The Dick Turpin (Image: Emz Louise Smith)

Despite initial plans for the pub to remain open until July 8, it appears to have closed on Friday.

Adam Ball, Southend Shakedown chairman, said: “I drove past the pub last week and noticed signs up in the window and the empty car park, I thought ‘that is it.’ “It felt like the end of an era and if this is the place for traditional meet-up dates, it is a sign of the times, people are just doing things differently.

“I drive around the south east for my jobs and I do see other pubs that have been boarded up, that are falling into disrepair, that in itself is a sad thing.

“It could become another better thing, what it really leaves a gap in the market for is a place like the Ace Café in London, which revolves purely around petrolheads, they have different events every night.

“Someone could step in and take the chance, there is a gap in south Essex but today, it is a sad day for all of us that love bikes and cars.”

Heyday - A Dick Turpin car meet Heyday - A Dick Turpin car meet (Image: Charlotte Lake)

Emz Louise Smith, a frequent visitor to the pub for car meets, admitted it will be a huge loss to the community.

She said: “I used to visit the pub quite a bit with either friends family or my partner.

“It’s a shame to see it close as I used to enjoy getting out to there to meet people, have a chat or catch up.

“I will enjoy the memories spent there it helped with my anxiety hopefully they re-open it back up so more meets can go ahead to make more memories and I hope they don’t knock it down and they keep it as a pub.”

Greene King has been contacted for comment.