A Herefordshire pub that suddenly closed earlier this year has been bought by two village residents.
The Bateman Arms, a traditional pub in Shobdon, has been bought by village residents, Vanessa Lewis and Simon Jones, for £420,000, according to agents Christie & Co.
Mr Jones and Ms Lewis both grew up in Shobdon and have a "deep personal connection" to the pub.
"Passionate" about restoring it to its former glory, they plan to reopen with a refreshed offering and make The Bateman Arms "the hub of village life", where locals and visitors can come together and enjoy great food and drink.
“We are excited to bring our vision of a traditional British pub to life and create a warm and welcoming space where the community can come together to enjoy hearty, quality food in a lively and friendly atmosphere," they said.
"Our goal is to create a place that feels like home, where great conversation, classic pub fare, and genuine hospitality are always on tap.”
Dating back to 1750, the Grade II listed pub was originally built by Sir James Bateman, former Lord Mayor of London.
The pub was sold by former owners, Coach House Inns, who the agents say completed the sale in order to focus their investment and attention on their other site, The Riverside at Aymestry.
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Harry Coughlin, Business Agent at Christie & Co, who managed the sale, said: “The Bateman Arms is a beautiful historic building, and it is fantastic to see local residents Vannessa and Simon take the reins to continue running it as a community pub.
"Food-led pubs in this area perform very well, but it’s important to remember to look after your wet trade too, and create an environment where people can relax with a drink or meal.
"We look forward to seeing The Bateman Arms flourish under Vannessa and Simon’s ownership and wish them well.”
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