A licensing improvement notice issued on The General Havelock pub due to “insufficient door supervisors” has led to the pub being repossessed by its owners.

The pub, in High Road, Ilford, was issued the notice a week before closing down for the second time in less than a year, though a council spokesman said it was “unlikely” to be the reason for the closure.

Owners Scottish and Newcastle Pub Company cited an “ongoing issue” with the pub’s licence as the reason for the temporary closure.

The company has told the Recorder it intends to reopen The General Havelock under new temporary management within the next two to three weeks.

A spokesman said: ““We will be working closely with the local authorities to ensure compliance of local licensing conditions, including increased security at the premises, in order that we do not see a repeat of the problems which have been experienced in the past.

“We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused by its temporary closure and look forward to welcoming customers back to the pub shortly.”

The pub, which was granted a licence to serve alcohol in June 2011, currently has all windows and doors covered by metal panels.