The manager of rock band Muse nearly took over Kingston’s Grey Horse pub as part of a rescue deal to save it as a live venue, the Comet can reveal.

Surrey Comet:

Muse. Pic: PA

A deal to take over the iconic Kingston music venue between the manager of one of the world’s biggest rock bands and a brewery owner has fallen through.

Nov 2014: The Grey Horse: What's next for historic Kingston live music venue?

Young’s brewery had been struggling to find a tenant for the Grey Horse for almost a year when it got “very close” to signing a deal with the tour manager of Muse, which would have secured the pub’s future as one of the borough’s few remaining live music venues. The deal fell through at the very last minute.

Jeff Bygraves, business development manager at Young’s, said: “It was disappointing because we thought we had struck a deal, but it fell through at the last minute.

“We have found a new landlord. One who is already running a successful Young’s pub.”

Muse have released seven albums and won five MTV Europe Music Awards, six Q Awards, eight NME Awards and two Brit Awards, among others.

The multi-million album-selling Devon band currently on a Far East tour are best known for tracks Sing for Absolution, a version of Feeling Good and Supermassive Black Hole, which may have one day been belted out in the Grey Horse had things been different.

The troubled Richmond Road pub that has been famous for live music for more than 70 years, will now re-open next month after extensive refurbishment, albeit with the new landlords expected to focus less on music.

They run gastro pub the White Hart just outside Guildford.

A licensing application submitted to Kingston Council last week suggested the Grey Horse would focus more on food rather than live entertainment.

There did appear to be some provision for music in the old Ram Jam Club at the back of the pub, but this may not be ready for the October opening.

New owners have also been in talks with Crack Comedy who used to run a stand-up club in the venue.

Former landlord Richard Fletcher ran the pub for 15 years.

He said: “I knew that one of Muse’s managers was a regular but never knew his name. Young’s have struggled to find tenants since I left and food just seems to be the way pubs are going now to make money.

“I have spoken to the new landlord and will be meeting with him soon to hand over the pub’s social media accounts. I wish them the best of luck.”

Clive Taylor, of Kingston Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), said: “I know [Young’s] has found it hard to find a landlord. It will be nice to see something done about the empty Grey Horse.”