When a Herefordshire pub relaunched with new ownership after a five year hiatus, it must have been particularly devastating when the coronavirus pandemic hit.

But complete with a whole new team after a full refurbishment, the New Inn at St Owens Cross, near Ross-on-Wye, embraced it.

Eat Sleep Live (ESL) Herefordshire, the organisation which markets the county as a tourism venue, said the pub took the chance to refine the menus, polish up the team and reconfigure the layout.

Now owned by the Green family, who also own Gun Dog Gin and are partners in Two Farmers Crisps, they achieved their vision of country pub chic, ESL Herefordshire said.

The historic New Inn at St Owen’s Cross, a 16th century coaching inn, reopened with chef Michael Fowler at the pass at a time when coronavirus restrictions curbed pubs' opening.

Reopening after a five year closure was a labour of love for three local businessmen, investor Mark Green and family, developer Mark Freeman and chef Michael Fowler.

Mark said: “I am passionate about keeping our pubs open, they are the heart of our local communities and giving The New Inn a new lease of life is more important now than ever.

"We hope people will enjoy a fantastic Herefordshire welcome when visiting, we have focused on sourcing local, using local services and of course, our menu will be locally focused too.”

The pub has been serving Mark’s well-known Two Farmers crisps at the bar as well as for the first-time a Two Farmers draught cider.