The intruders unfurled a banner from a window to announce their arrival at the Stockwell Arms, a 14th-century tavern once home to Robinson Crusoe author Daniel Defoe.
It came as agents warned the property was likely to be sold as a home or shop, rather than as a pub, with potential interest only coming from developers and retail entrepreneurs.
It went on the market for £275,000 after owner Admiral Taverns refused to renew the contracts of former landlords Sue and Paul Brown in January.
Trevor Johnson from the Colchester branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, a Stockwell Arms regular for 25 years, said the pub’s plight was “sad”.
“Squatters were inevitable,” he said.
“The Stockwell Arms, I think, is most likely to be sold off as accommodation, but personally, what I really want is for the pub to re-open as a real ale public house.”
Mark Grieg, managing director of London-based property agent Paramount Investments, said: “As no publican or pub company has stepped forward to save the Stockwell Arms, it may cease to be a pub at all.”
Deeds for the timber-framed building, which is in the Dutch Quarter, date back to 1380 and 18th-century author Mr Defoe is included on the long list of former occupants.
It is one of hundreds of pubs facing a troubled future, partly due to the credit crunch – an issue which has prompted Colchester MP Bob Russell to put forward a Parliamentary motion to “save the great British pub”.
So far, it has been backed by 200 of his Parliamentary colleagues and has won support from celebrities including TV presenter Melanie Sykes.
In the Commons, Mr Russell said five pubs were closing every day in the UK, citing planned tax rises as “placing traditional public houses at an even greater risk of closing down”.
The motion consists of a five point plan for the Government to adopt, including a minimum pricing scheme to stop supermarkets undercutting landlords.
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