ONE of York’s best known pubs is believed to have closed - for the time being at least.

The Kings Arms, in King’s Staith near Ouse Bridge, is said to have shut on Saturday.

It remained closed yesterday, with its curtains drawn at all the ground floor windows.

There was a notice in the pub’s window saying: “Live-in management couple wanted to run this public house. Full training will be given.”

Owned by Sam Smith’s Brewery, the pub is famous for its susceptibility to flooding and its picturesque location next to the Ouse.

When asked if the pub was expected to reopen soon, a spokesperson for the brewery said he “hoped so” but then added “no comment”.

Sam Smith’s has an advert online which asks for a “live-in joint management couple to run very busy small historic pub with open fires and trade kitchen on the riverside in York”.

It goes on to say: “£1,000 fidelity bond essential. Benefits: Salaried position. Rent + utilities bills will be paid for. No commute to work. Full training available.”

The pub’s beer garden, on the cobbles next to the Ouse, is popular with drinkers, particularly in the summer.

The pub is well-known for being flood-prone.

When the River Ouse flooded King’s Staith last month, the Kings Arms closed its riverside door but continued to serve customers.

The pub’s early 17th century building was first recorded as a pub in 1783 or 1795 as King’s Arms, then in the 19th century as ‘Ouse Bridge Inn’.

It reverted to its old name in 1974.

The inn sign depicts King Richard III, who as a boy grew up at Middleham Castle, and as Duke of Gloucester visited York frequently from Sheriff Hutton.

Inside the pub is a flood marker, which shows the height the floods have reached over the years.

In July last year, the landlady of the pub at the time told The Press of the moment she was attacked outside the premises a few days before.

Amy Wilson said she was punched in the head as she was trying to help customers.