A COUNTRY pub on a busy main road between Worcester and Pershore has been bought by a local farming family and is set to reopen on Friday August 25.

The Berkeley at Egdon off the main A44 was a popular pub, restaurant and function venue before closing its doors about nine months ago.

It has now been bought by the Rodenhurst family, which has four farms in the area and also owns the village pub in Tibberton, Speed the Plough.

Tracey Rodenhurst, who runs the Tibberton pub with her mum Angela, said: “The Berkeley came up for sale and we thought we would buy it as we had money to invest. It is opening on Friday evening and there is going to be a disco.

“We have invited quite a few people on the opening night and it is open to the public too.”

She said the building needed a bit of a tidy up but had been refurbished a couple of years ago and hadn’t needed any major work.

Although the family, which has been in Tibberton for 38 years, runs the Speed the Plough, The Berkeley is being run by licensee Lee Payne.

Unlike the Rodenhursts, Lee has been in the pub trade all his working life and has previously run the Pillar of Salt in Droitwich and the Mother Huffcap, Great Alne, near Alcester.

Originally from Wychbold, he said he heard about the Berkeley through word of mouth and he was really excited about taking it on. He has previously run brewery-owned pubs.

“I am really excited because it is my first real project when I am not tied to a big company,” he said.

The pub will only be open for drinks and the disco on the first night, but food will be on the menu soon, he added.

“We are going to be serving traditional pub food prepared on the premises. My main focus will be the function room. I want to attract party bookings, weddings and groups holding meetings.”

The Berkeley is expected to be open for business again from 6pm this Friday.