Aratula has become a town with no beer – on tap at least – after its popular publicans packed up shop over the weekend. 

But while conceding its future was still “up in the air”, the pub’s owner said he planned to open the doors of the Aratula Hotel Motel to punters once again in a few weeks. Frank Klan did not want to speak publicly about the reason behind the departure of his lessees Georgie Ballinger and Di Leeds after their more than two years running the bar. 

But it is no secret they faced torrid times of late, having to contend with fires, floods and, of course, a certain pandemic, all of which conspired to force their doors shut for long stretches of time. 

Last February, an Ipswich motorbike Youtuber organised a Ride to Save the A