The announcement that a historic Oldham pub would be closing left local groups which held their meetings there being forced to find new bases.
The Royal Oak on Union Street closed its doors for the time last month, with the Grade II listed building having been sold to an unknown buyer.
Before its closure, the pub was a meeting place for as many as 13 local groups and organisations, including the Oldham branch of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, or 'Buffs' for short, as well as the Royal British Legion's (RBL) Oldham branch and a folk music playing group.
Former landlord of the pub Dave Sweeney said groups held their meetings at the pub because of large pub room upstairs, which used to be popular for wedding celebrations.
However, with the sudden news of the Royal Oak's closure, groups were forced to find new homes for their meetings on short notice.
The Buffs had met at the Royal Oak for the past 12 years but are now moving to the Fox and Pine pub, on nearby Greaves Street.
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Paul Green, who has been part of the Buffs for 42 years and holds multiple roles in different chapters, said he was "very disappointed" about the Royal Oak's closure and that there was "a panic" when they heard about the news.
However, Mr Green said the Fox and Pine have been "very welcoming".
He said: "We're definitely looking forward to being at the Fox and Pine, if we can stay there for as long as we were at the Royal Oak then we'll be very happy."
The RBL are another group making the Fox and Pine their home for their meetings each month.
Tony Milligan, who served in the Royal Artillery and is now a member of Oldham’s Royal Artillery Association, said he would miss going to the Royal Oak, which he described as a "good, old fashioned pub" with a "nice and cosy" upstairs room.
The 81-year-old, who raised money for charity earlier this year by sky diving, said: "It was like going back in time to the 1950s, it was a lovely place.
"It was like a throwback, it would make a damn good film set."
The Royal Oak was also a hub for folk music, with its popular folk nights being put on since last year.
Hannah Wood, who redecorated the Royal Oak through her business Primer Donnas during lockdown and handles the former pub's communications, organised for the folk nights to be held at the historic building, however they have been made to find a new home.
A Facebook post on the Folk at the Oak's page read: "Folk at The Oak has been wonderful. It's brought old friends back together and sparked new connections in all that have been involved."
The page also thanked Mr Sweeney and said they would never forget him or the pub "in a million years".
The Oldham folk nights are being preserved and are now being held at Bank Top Tavern on King Street.
In a post on social media, Bank Top Tavern said: "It's a crying shame as another iconic community pub and venue has been forced to close its doors.
"The Royal Oak has been a tradition and a legend since I can remember and is such a loss to Oldham's community and so many groups that rely on it.
"So, when we were asked by some members of the Folk on the Oak to carry on this great afternoon of fun and folk music, we said 'of course, it would be our pleasure!'"
Despite the sudden closure of an iconic Oldham pub which served so many local groups, other pubs have stepped up.
The groups will continue to meet at their new bases as they continue on without the Royal Oak.
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