EastEnders enthusiasts reckon they’ve sussed out the next owner of The Queen Vic as the pub is put on the market.

After Elaine Knights’ (Harriet Thorpe) unexpected break up with husband George (Colin Salmon), the couple have been squabbling over funds invested in the business.

Ex-professional boxer George is demanding his due after being booted out of the iconic pub, while Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) has expressed her desire to sell The Vic. This decision comes as Linda grapples with alcoholism and “doesn’t want to be surrounded by booze”.

At first, Elaine attempted to secure a bank loan to buy Linda’s share of the business. However, as she recovers from her frightening heart attack, the two landladies have agreed to sell up.

Previous reports suggest that Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) is poised to become The Vic’s landlady once again, reports Belfast Live.

She was the former licensee alongside husband Alfie (Shane Richie) from 2010 to 2013 before Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) and Linda took the reins.

However, some EastEnders fans believe a returning character will soon see their name above the door.

On Tuesday (July 1), Bernie Taylor (Clair Norris) made a sudden departure from Walford after nicking a large sum from the Panesar accounts.

Following Nish’s (Navin Chowdhry) death earlier this year, she was left in charge of the Panesar businesses until his grandchildren come of age.

EastEnders enthusiasts have a hunch that Bernie will use her ill-gotten gains for a dramatic twist involving The Vic.

After the character, portrayed by Clair Norris, was seen giving the pub a longing look, viewers started speculating that Bernie, together with her mum Karen Taylor (acted by Lorraine Stanley), could become the new proprietors of the iconic East London boozer.

Fans took to social media sites like Reddit to air their theories, with one fan speculating: “The Vic. I’m gonna call it Karen will be the next landlady.”

Another hinted at the significance of Bernie’s glance towards the pub upon her departure: “The way Bernie looked at the pub as she was leaving, Karen’s got a load of money and now so has Bernie.”

Others shared their opinions on the prospective change in management, with one person commenting: “The Taylors would be awful in the big boozer. Send in someone like Kat and Alfie or Shazza.”

Meanwhile, Twitter has been abuzz with similar chatter about the fate of The Vic. One tweet read: “Quite obsessed with Bernie robbing the Panesars, why bloody not I say, she’ll be buying the Vic next #EastEnders.”

Another user joined in, pondering Bernie’s financial moves: “Bernie going to end up buying the Vic with the inheritance Nish left for Avani and Nugget she’s got control of isn’t she #EastEnders “.