A 100-year-old Cradley Heath pub has been forced to shut, with the landlord blaming the smoking ban as a reason for dwindling trade.

The Goldmine is now set to be demolished under plans for a care home.

Mark Walker fought plans to convert the pub into homes and the plans were thrown out in September.

However, he decided to close the pub last month as it was no longer profitable.

He said: “I think the smoking ban played a part.”

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A 100-year-old Cradley Heath pub has been forced to shut, with the landlord blaming the smoking ban as a reason for dwindling trade.

The Goldmine is now set to be demolished under plans for a care home.

Mark Walker fought plans to convert the pub into homes and the plans were thrown out in September.

However, he decided to close the pub last month as it was no longer profitable.

He said: “I think the smoking ban played a part.

“People are just not going out. They are mortgaged up to the hilt. I was paying a fortune on gas and electricity but it just wasn’t worth it as the takings were not good enough. I am sad. I don’t want to see it knocked down but what could I do?

“I have been talking to a lot of landlords and they are thinking of packing it up too. 

“The rent pubs charge is sometimes around £100 a week on top of an initial bond which can be several thousand. There’s just not the turnover to justify this amount.”

People signed a petition to keep the pub open in July after the first homes plan was submitted. It used to be called The Blue Ball, and a brick on the site reveals it dates back to 1899.

Architect Donald Shearer, speaking on behalf of Brightwell Properties Ltd which is behind the care home scheme, said: “Everything we do has to be agreed by the Royal Institute of British Architects.”

Mr Shearer added the company always canvassed the community before any plans were put in but declined to reveal results.