The future of EastEnders‘ Queen Vic is thrown into jeopardy next week when Elaine and George Knight’s bitter feud escalates – and a scandal hits the pub that could get it shut down.

A special celebration is booked for one of the regulars, but what should be a happy occasion sets off a dramatic chain of events that has dangerous consequences.

With Patrick Trueman’s 85th birthday coming up, Yolande Trueman asks if she can book The Vic for a party. Already feeling overworked since George left, Linda Carter is reluctant to host – but eager Elaine overrules her.

Having been strong-armed into arranging Patrick’s party at short notice, Linda is livid when her mum swans off and leaves her to run the bar alone again.

George swings by and can see Linda is struggling, so he offers to lend a hand, but Elaine gets wind and accuses him of interfering.

“George is fuming,” says our insider. “He’s trying to make amends and put the family’s livelihood first, so doesn’t appreciate Elaine’s reaction.

“He hits back by revealing he’s hired a new solicitor to handle the divorce, who’s told him he could have a claim on The Vic – meaning he could swipe it from under Elaine’s nose.”

Shaken by George’s threat, Elaine doubles down on running the pub her way and pulls out all the stops for Patrick’s special birthday celebration.

Meanwhile, back at the Fox-Trueman house, Denzel Danes and his mates are babysitting the Square’s youngsters while the adults are at the pub.

Joel Marshall then invites himself in, armed with alcohol, and with the kids busy watching a film, he later encourages Denzel to go to The Vic to liven things up.

“Elaine lets the lads have a sneaky glass of punch,” our source explains. “But when she’s not looking, Joel and Denzel steal a whole jug and take it home. The boys later realise, to their horror, that Raymond, Bert and Ernie have drunk the alcohol.”

Denzel and Joel are thrown into a panic over this dangerous incident. As word spreads around the Square, worried Kat Slater and Denise Fox rush their sickly children to hospital.

Anxiously awaiting news on their condition, the angry mums turn on Elaine when it emerges that she served the underage teens the alcohol, the catalyst for all this chaos.

Could Elaine lose her licence, allowing George to swoop in and take control of The Vic?