A TROUBLED Teignmouth publican has been found hanging in his own hostelry.

The body of Clive Allen, 44, was discovered on the stairs of his flat at The Courtenay on the seafront, and the tragedy has shocked customers and business people in the town.

He and his partner, Dirk Doose, who is the official license holder, ran the popular inn for about a year. Before that they were mine hosts at historic The Old Brewery in High Street, Dawlish, for several years.

Mr Allen was found early on Friday morning last week. Three later, on Monday, a party had been organised at The Old Brewery to celebrate Mr Doose's 40th birthday.

A stunned regular at The Courtenay said: "This is just so awful. I was there talking to Clive a few days before, and he seemed very down and unhappy.

"From what he was saying, a lot of it was due to the economic downturn, which was affecting trade. I gather there were other problems as well.

"He was a likeable guy, and he and Dirk ran a clean, well organised pub that was very popular."

Mr Dirk, an acclaimed chef, was too upset to comment. The pub was closed for the weekend, but reopened on Monday.

A post mortem at Torbay Hospital on monday confirmed that death was due to hanging. His mother, Maureen Kimber from Yealmpton, identified the body, and said her son had been born in Kingsbridge.

The South Devon coroner, Ian Arrow, opened an inquest at Torquay on Tuesday, and adjourned it until a date to be arranged for a full hearing.

Coroner's officer Ric Parsons said the body had been found on the stairs, and added there was no note left. There were no suspicious circumstances.

Mr Allen's parents at one time ran the Conservative Club in Shaldon.

Last year The Courtenay, which changed its name to Strikers Sports Bar for a time, won a highly acclaimed award in the Teignmouth in Bloom contest, and Mr Allen received the certificate from the Mayor, Cllr Fred Tooley.

The lease on The Courtenay is owned by Enlighten Inns, which took over 12 pubs from Peninsula Inns Ltd when it went into liquidation just before Christmas.

Many pubs in Teignbridge and across the country are suffering from the credit crunch as people stay at home to save money, and many have already closed. It is feared others will also be forced to call last orders in the coming months.