A VILLAGE pub has been bought by a county farmer.

The Three Horseshoes Inn in Allensmore was placed on the market for £825,000.

Estate agents Christie & Co marketed the 17th century traditional inn and confirmed the sale today to Russell Pugh.

He is a first-time entrant to the licensed sector but will be known to many locals as his family has been farming in the area for more than 100 years.

Producing cattle, sheep, wheat, barley, lupin and even Christmas trees, Mr Pugh owns two sites with a combined 320 acres in Preston-on-Wye and Allensmore.

The latter site neighbours the Three Horseshoes so he said he seized the opportunity to purchase the inn when it came on the market.

“We bought the pub to diversify the farm and run alongside it," he added.

"The management and all staff are being retained as they already do a great job and we will be overseeing the business and putting our ideas in to the running of it.

"We have plans to upgrade the beer garden, removing overgrown planting and reducing the height of the hedge to allow the sunlight in, adding a new pergola on the front patio and a children's play area, with swings, slides and climbing area, all fenced off to make it secure.

"We are also looking at installing a new baby changing facility.

"The food is to be sourced as locally as possible, with beef and lamb coming from our farm and some exciting new menus to come out soon!”

Nicholas Calfe, Director of Christie & Co, said: “There is a continued appetite and demand for high volume well performing pubs, ideally with rooms and dining areas that can accommodate over a 100 covers plus decent outside space.

"This ensures a consistent level of sales, capable of sustaining a management structure that can offer good quality service and serve locally sourced food at pub prices so as not to alienate its local customers.

"The added advantage of letting rooms attract a wider audience and sustain trade during the quieter times of the year.”