Chris Evans 'forced to close down pub'

Chris Evans has been forced to shut down his pub The Lickfold Inn due to a lack of business, it has been revealed.

The One Show host blamed the recession for putting customers off coming to the 15th Century gastropub in Petworth, West Sussex, reports The Sun.

Camilla Hansen, head of the Evans Pubs firm, said: "After almost three years I have sadly had to make the decision to close The Lickfold Inn.

"We have had some great times there but also some less good times and after a period of struggling to hit a consistent high, I feel that we can no longer justify keeping the Lickfold open."

Evans staged the wedding reception for ex-wife Billie Piper and Laurence Fox at the pub in 2007.

The DJ also owns The Mulberry Inn in Surrey.