Pub owner's company in administration

Mr Long has a high profile in Windsor. His River House Restaurant at Thames Side was the first in the country to serve meat direct from the royal farms.

But this week David Thurgood from the administrators Menzies said they were now running the business - as well as Mr Long's bars the Royal Oak in Datchet Road, Bar 51 in Peascod Street, the Royal Stag on the Green in Datchet and the George Inn in Eton High Street.

He confirmed that the 90 staff had not been paid over a three week period between late July and August 18 but was hopeful that no jobs would be lost.

He said: "Our plan is to sell them all as growing concerns.

"We want tourists and local people to continue using the businesses and in the meantime we will continue running them."  

Mr Long's company WPC Inns Ltd went into administration last December. Menzies took over then but agreed to sell the businesses back to Mr Thurgood through a new company WPC Leisure.

But by August Mr Long was failing to keep up the instalments. HM Revenues and Customs delivered the final blow by issuing a winding up order against the new company.

Mr Long could not be contacted this week. His telephone lines have been disconnected and a neighbour in Grove Road, Windsor said he had moved a month ago.

This week the president of Windsor District Chamber of Commerce Phil McMichael said he had not seen Mr Long for a while.

He said: "He made a major contribution to Pubwatch in the town.

"It is very sad and hopefully a new chapter will dawn for him soon."