BBC/Composite: EastEnders Insider Share By Joel Harley Jul 23 2025 By Joel Harley Jul 23 2025 6 things about The Queen Vic sale which made no sense It was the sale of the century Features Kat Slater Linda Carter The Queen Victoria Share By Joel Harley Jul 23 2025 By Joel Harley Jul 23 2025 This week’s EastEnders was the end of an era, as Linda Carter completed The Queen Vic sale after serving as its landlady for 11 years. In a hotly-contested bidding war, Ian Beale faced off against a hard-nosed property developed for the future of the nation’s favourite pub. As it happened, neither party were successful in purchasing The Vic, as Kat Moon took ownership in a controversial decision from Linda. This makes Kat The Queen Vic’s landlady once again – in what must be the quickest transfer of ownership in the history of real estate. With the ink still drying, here’s five things about The Queen Vic sale which made no sense. Jean ruined it for everyone (Credit: BBC) Six things about EastEnders’ Queen Vic sale which made no sense: 1. The auction’s off! In a chaotic turn of events, The Vic’s winning bidder didn’t even turn up for the auction. With Stacey’s financial backing in doubt, Kat sat the actual bidding process out while Ian and an ill-intentioned property developer chewed one another out. Stacey had a change of heart after speaking to mum Jean, but it was almost too late by then. Thankfully, Jean managed to stop proceeds before the gavel could bang on the final bid, pulling a fire alarm with seconds to spare. Article continues below Read all the latest spoilers As the bidders gathered in the street outside, Kat arrived to put in her bid. A highly unconventional turn of events and, as Ian and pretty much everyone else pointed out, not how auctions work. The presumed breach of contract will likely leave Kat or Linda with the auctioneer’s commission still to settle. Stacey suffered a last minute wobble (Credit: BBC) 2. Stacey Slater coughs up the funds It was thanks to a surprise life insurance payout from Stacey’s dead ex Martin that Kat was able to afford The Vic in the first place. Never mind the fact that £100k only covers the deposit (are we expected to believe Kat’s meeting with the bank scored her another couple of million on top?), is buying a pub really their best course of action? Only the week before, Stacey had struggled with the concept of re-opening the fruit and veg stall, deeming it ‘disrespectful’ to Martin’s memory. Completely fine to help Kat buy The Vic though, where Martin quite literally died, partly due to her own actions. For once, we agree with Ian Beale. Linda didn’t exactly hit it off with her auctioneer (Credit: BBC) Six things about EastEnders’ Queen Vic sale which made no sense: 3. A ‘tatty old place’ The auction got off to a hairy start when the auctioneer arrived full of aspersions about The Vic. She rightfully took umbrage at his describing the pub as a ‘tatty old place,’ perhaps explaining why she was so willing to call the whole thing off later. But aren’t the writers forgetting something? Far from ‘old,’ The Queen Vic has recently been renovated after the whole explosion incident, so is probably as fresh now as the day it was built. The insults didn’t end there either, with Bert and Ernie slamming the upstairs wallpaper as Kat arrived to size the place up. In everyone’s defence, it’s easy to forget that the pub was literally rebuilt this year, given that it looks exactly the same as it ever did. Going once, going twice… gone to someone else (Credit: BBC) 4. How much did it sell for anyway? With The Vic likely being worth between $2million and $5million in today’s economy, it’s unlikely that the Slaters could ever afford The Vic in the first place. EastEnders’ solution? Rather than address the situation, instead the soap chose not to mention any figures at all, hand-waving away the specifics as Linda accepted a ‘lower’ bid, for Walford’s sake. But how much lower than the winning bid did Kat go? With Linda now out of a job and a business, one can only hope she got enough money from the sale to secure her and the kids’ future. Kat and Linda worked out their own deal (Credit: BBC) Six things about EastEnders’ Queen Vic sale which made no sense continued: 5. Kat moves in The sale agreed, Kat and Linda didn’t waste much time in the handover – fast-forward 24 hours, and Kat was already behind the bar and in charge. In a temporary house swap, Elaine’s set to move into the Slaters’ home while Kat and her family pile into The Vic. Linda barely had time to pack before Bert and Ernie arrived, charging around the gaff, insulting her choice of interior design. Never mind if she’s even a licensee yet – the Kat Moon era of The Queen Vic begins now. Again. Linda’s taking the kids on holiday (Credit: BBC) 6. Linda’s singles cruise… with the kids After bidding farewell to Tracey and The Vic, Linda piled into the back of a taxi with Johnny, Annie and Ollie for a well-deserved holiday. This was the cruise vacation bought for Priya during Elaine’s post-George, pre-heart attack period of mania. Linda and the kids could do with some time away – and Priya didn’t exactly deserve the cruise in the first place – but wasn’t the whole idea that this was supposed to be a singles cruise? However Elaine managed to score a ‘family ticket’ on a singles cruise, one can only imagine how all those singletons will react to seeing Linda Carter arrive with her young children in tow. Read more: Who’s leaving, joining and returning to EastEnders? Complete list of cast exits, arrivals and returns. Share Good to Know Share By Joel Harley Jul 23 2025 By Joel Harley Jul 23 2025
