A VILLAGE pub near Leominster has reopened after being empty for two years.

Karen and Godfrey Pitt, from St Michael's, near Tenbury, spent nine months refurbishing the former Monkland Arms before reopening the pub as The Monk.

An entirely new venture for them – Mr Pitt previously worked as an account manager while his wife was a teacher – the couple say they want to offer good food and a warm welcome to visitors.

Mr Pitt said: "We had known of the Monkland Arms for years and were looking for a project and something to get stuck into and run it as a family business.

"The pub had been empty for two years and had been in a poor state. We turned it into a shell and spent nine months refurbishing it.

"It's a completely new venture for us. It's great. It's hard work and long hours and the support we have had from people has been wonderful.

"We get really good feedback from everybody who comes. It's just trying to keep changing the menu and putting on events that people are asking for."

The couple renamed the pub to give it a clean break from the past and say they are keep to buck the trend, which most recently has seen more and more pubs closing.