This week in EastEnders, Walford is rattled to its core as the walls of The Queen Vic seem to close in on those trying to hold it together. Long-held emotions erupt, devastating secrets come to light, and a heartbreaking question lingers in the air—has the time come to say goodbye to the Vic?

It all begins with Phil trying to stay afloat while caring for Nigel, whose mental state is rapidly deteriorating. When a calendar reminder about his late wife Debbie throws Nigel into a spiral, Phil does everything in his power to keep things normal. But Nigel’s erratic behavior—cooking unattended, walking barefoot in public, and growing increasingly confused—proves too much for Phil to manage alone. Friends and family rally around him, but Phil stubbornly resists help. He’s made a promise to Nigel to be by his side to the end, and he’s determined not to abandon him, even as it becomes clear he’s sacrificing his own well-being in the process.

Meanwhile, an emotional Claire witnesses the toll it’s taking on her granddad. She makes a heartbreaking observation—Phil is drowning under the pressure, and his loyalty to Nigel may be killing him. When Claire pleads with him to accept help before he lands back in a mental health unit—or worse—Phil is forced to confront the truth. But even so, he clings to the belief that he’s all Nigel has left, and he can’t risk going back to a life of isolation and despair.

While Phil’s private battle rages, the drama in The Queen Vic spills into public view. Tensions flare between Elaine and George as their separation grows more hostile by the day. Elaine’s drinking spirals out of control, leading to a disastrous party at the Vic. She clashes with Johnny, lashes out at George, and takes her pain out on everyone around her. In the chaos, a shocking event sends shockwaves through Walford—Raymond and the twins fall seriously ill after consuming spiked punch. Paramedics rush to the scene. Though they’re expected to recover, the incident jeopardizes the Vic’s alcohol license and draws the attention of the authorities.

Elaine refuses to take accountability, deflecting blame even as Kim accuses her of prioritizing bricks and mortar over children’s safety. Johnny, worn down by his mother’s behavior and the fallout, hits his breaking point. He confronts Elaine, demanding she face reality: her marriage is over, her pub is falling apart, and she’s spiraling. He can no longer bear the burden of supporting both her and the pub.

The Queen Vic, once a symbol of family and legacy, now feels like a prison to some and a battleground to others. Johnny delivers the gut-wrenching truth—his mother’s trauma, alcoholism, and painful past haunt every corner of the pub. It’s not just a building anymore. It’s a place where ghosts linger. He urges her to let go, to choose healing over legacy, and to embrace the idea of moving on.

In a moment of vulnerable strength, Elaine admits the truth: she doesn’t love the Vic anymore. It’s no longer her sanctuary—it’s where her worst memories live. She confesses that staying puts her recovery and sanity at risk, and it’s time she prioritized herself. She wants to sell the pub.

But that decision ignites another storm. Gina, deeply rooted in the Vic and proud of her identity as a landlord, refuses to let it go. She believes the Vic is worth fighting for—not just for its history, but for the new memories still to be made. Her fresh start, she insists, lies in the pub, not away from it. She vows not to be forced out, saying she’d rather die than walk away from the place that defines her.

What unfolds next is a painful standoff between mother and daughter. Gina feels betrayed. Elaine feels broken. Both want vastly different things, but neither can deny that The Queen Vic is more than just a pub—it’s the battleground for their future.

With the pub license under investigation, families divided, secrets exposed, and emotions boiling over, The Queen Vic’s fate hangs in the balance.

Will it be a rebirth—or the end of an era?

Don’t miss this week’s EastEnders, where the soul of Walford’s most iconic pub is on the line—and the choices made now could change everything.