A CITY pub has been sold but mystery surrounds what will happen to it next.

Enterprise Inns has confirmed the sale of the Nightingale pub in Nettleham Road, Lincoln, to farming business and property developer MF Strawson Ltd.

But the Grimsby-based company will not reveal what its plans are for the property.

The sale was dealt with by Banks, Long & Co of Lincoln and Peter Banks, a partner at the firm, has said that details of the sale in March are commercially sensitive.

However he confirmed the pub was put on the market for offers upwards of £400,000 in November and land adjoining its grounds had also been sold at auction.

"The pub does not have any planning permission attached to it," he said.

"We know that the new owners are going to submit a proposal in the near future."

City of Lincoln Council spokesman Caroline Ashman confirmed no application had yet been submitted to develop the former pub.

Shaun Barnett, night time economy manager at the Lincoln Business Improvement Group, said he hoped the purchaser's intention was to keep it as a pub to benefit the local community.

"It's a good time for someone to make an investment and great premises for someone to hold the freehold on and rent it out to a private tenant," he said.

"It's a concerning option that it could be eventually turned into housing like the Turks Head was."

He added: "I'm intrigued about what is going to happen to it but I'm sure it will be a fantastic investment for them."

The Nightingale's closure has come as a major blow to the Lincoln Branleys Petanque Club who play French boules on its grounds.

Ten years ago the club spent £3,500 creating a 15m by 45m gravel surface to play on.

President and founder of the club, Peter Mann, 62, said the 20-member club had been allowed to continue playing at the site until the end of August.

"We thought it was a secure home for us and it was quite a good little earner for the pub as we go there for refreshments and to use the toilet facilities," said Mr Mann of Willingham, near Gainsborough.

"It was an ideal situation.

"There has been a constant turnover of management at the Nightingale over the past few years."

A pub or social club which has an area of land that could be adapted to a boules surface can call Peter Mann on 07790 016723.