EastEnders fans believe the Queen Vic could be set for new owners after spotting key clues in recent weeks
EastEnders fans are forecasting turbulent times ahead for the Queen Vic, with the possibility of new owners emerging.
In recent episodes of the BBC One soap, Alfie Moon, played by Shane Richie, has been seen freely handing out complimentary drinks to the pub’s regulars.
In Tuesday’s episode (February 3), Ross Marshall (Alex Walkinshaw) was left furious after Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig) confessed to having an affair — unaware that her secret lover was Zack Hudson (James Farrar).
Ross later headed to the Queen Vic to drown his sorrows, where Alfie lent a sympathetic ear and offered him a free bag of pork scratchings.
Alfie then suggested the “sad man’s club” move upstairs for a bottle of whisky, an idea Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman), Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) and Ross were happy to go along with, OK! reports.
Later on, Ross and Vicki made amends, with Vicki agreeing to marry him despite their earlier row.
When the newly engaged couple returned to The Vic, they were welcomed with cheers and yet another round of free drinks, once again courtesy of Alfie.
EastEnders fans are now speculating that Alfie’s generosity could spell financial disaster for the pub and potentially signal the Moons’ exit.
One concerned viewer wrote on social media: “Alfie needs to stop giving things away on the house. #EastEnders.”
Another questioned: “#EastEnders how on earth is The Vic making any money? Kat’s handing out free drinks every day, and Alfie’s got people upstairs drinking whisky.”
One viewer commented: “Alfie keeps giving drinks away 😭 #EastEnders,” while another joked: “Alfie’s ‘drinks all round on the house’ routine makes him a terrible landlord. Maybe he should tell all these struggling pub owners how he manages it. #EastEnders.”
Alfie’s reckless generosity follows closely on from an episode that hinted he and Kat (Jessie Wallace) may no longer be running the iconic pub.
In a New Year’s Day special, the BBC soap jumped ahead to January 1, 2027, centring on Max Branning’s (Jake Wood) wedding, an affair storyline and his eventual arrest.
Ian Beale was furious after The Vic was booked to host the wedding reception for Max and his mysterious bride. However, the ceremony failed to go as planned, leaving the pub unusually quiet.
Scenes showed regulars Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker), George Knight (Colin Salmon) and Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) inside the Vic, alongside barmaid Tracey (Jane Slaughter), Ian, and his son Peter Beale (Thomas Law).
Ian voiced his frustration at the absentee pub owners, given the large amount spent on the event. He questioned Tracey about their whereabouts and why they weren’t overseeing the celebrations, asking: “Where are they? We’ve been paying them top dollar; they’re supposed to be in charge.”
Despite Ian’s questions, the proprietors remained noticeably absent, leaving viewers unsure about who was actually running the pub. Tracey referred to them only as “they,” keeping their identities vague.
Her reluctance to name the owners added to the intrigue, suggesting the show was deliberately keeping the audience guessing. Could this confirm that Kat and Alfie are no longer in charge, with new owners taking over as 2027 approaches?
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