Lovers of roast dinners have visited a traditional English pub in their droves this week for their "last supper" as the owners prepare to do away with its popular carvery.

The Queen Elizabeth pub in Forest Side, Chingford, has been a carvery pub for at least 30 years, before and after it became part of the 'Home of the Great British Carvery' brand, which was part of the Orchid Group.

In 2014, pub and restaurant empire Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) paid £266m in cash to buy out all 173 Orchid pubs.

As part of the transition, the Queen Elizabeth will now become an Ember Inn, one of M&B's brands offering great British pub food and Cask ales - but no carvery and limited table service.

Staff have said customers are "devastated" at the loss of the carvery and predict it will "lose its personal touch".

Duty manager, Yvonne Cartawick, said: "People that used to eat at the Toby in Buckhurst Hill find us and stay.

"The carvery is a very big part of this pub -it is its heart and soul.

"It has been so upsetting and really emotional for a lot of the staff, and the regulars who are treating their last carvery like its the last supper.

"We will lose a lot of the restaurant trade but we do expect to attract new people because of the change and added variety.

"In terms of the pub's look, we are ready for a change and see the refurb as a way forward."

Waitress Barbara Hall, 70, has been serving customers for the last 25 years.

She said: "Considering we're off the beaten track, we do exceptionally well as a carvery and its manic here on a Sunday.

"Our older customers are devastated and many of them have been in tears this week."

It will close this Sunday (August 9) for a six-week refurbishment and is expected to re-open on September 19.

Customer Claire Lee, 38, of Rosslyn Avenue, Chingford, doubts she will return in September as she only visits with her family for the carvery.

"It is a real shame as the staff know us by name and always go the extra mile for my daughter.

"By taking away table service and the carvery, it will lose its personal touch.

"Changing the entire brand was not necessary."

Nolan Spratt, regional director for Ember Inns, added: "Bringing a new Ember Inn to Chingford is really exciting for the brand and the team are gearing up for the opening in September.

"At Ember Inns, we want to create a local to be proud of and we’re committed to providing a quality pub experience for all our guests."