The owners of a Clydebank pub say they are on the hunt for a new licence holder after the bar shut down suddenly as pics of a pool table sex romp leaked online.

A spokesperson for Star Pubs and Bars, the pub business of Heineken UK, said they are looking for a new tenant for The Horse and Barge following its closure on October 3.

The Dumbarton Road boozer did not open for business on Tuesday, October 4, as X-rated pics leaked online which seemed to show three people engaging in late-night sex act on the pool table.

The explicit photos, sent to the Post by numerous sources, had the faces of the people taking part in the apparent sex act blocked with an emoji. 

And the previous landlord Scott Mackie told the Post he was "mortified" the images of him had been leaked online, but he said his decision to close was due to the venture no longer being "viable".

He said previously: "Both things are totally unrelated, my issue is probably the absolutely mortifying images of me, which I admit was a stupid mistake on my part on a very drunken night where pictures of me were taken without my knowledge or consent and by coincidence they happened to appear on every social media platform the day I decided to close the pub.

Read More: Horse & Barge: Clydebank pub shuts as pool table sex pics leak

“The actual closure of the pub was my own personal decision that I had been considering for a few weeks, due to the type of lease/agreement I had with the brewery it just wasn’t viable, it’s a great pub and I hope it opens again soon and I hope whomever it is can make a go of it.”

And now the owners have explained they are in the process of trying to get the well-loved establishment open again.

This week, a Star Pubs & Bars’ spokesperson told the Post: "We are actively recruiting to find a suitable operator.

"We hope to reopen the pub as soon as possible but cannot provide a date at this time."

The planned reopening will be welcome news to the Dalmuir community, as the Horse and Barge, formerly named O'Kanes and Ace of Spades, is the largest of the pubs in the area.