TRADE in St John’s has been boosted after it emerged the Bush Inn pub is to re-open.

The Victorian building, in Worcester, has been bought by Andrew Boughton – a planner and architect – who has already appointed a tenant landlord to run the pub.

Mr Boughton is now in the process of applying for planning permission to convert the upper floors and rear of the building, which dates back to 1890, into four flats – two two-bedroom and two one-bedroom.

His planning application says that by turning much of the unused space into rentable accommodation, the building can be made more viable as a business.

“There is a future for pubs to stay open despite what you hear,” said Mr Boughton, from Colwall, Malvern.

“There has been a lot of burying heads in the sand in Worcester about trade dying. It needs re-shaping and looking at again.

“There is a future for traditional pubs, which is what the Bush is, and we do not want to change that.

“Pubs can stay open, providing they are run and managed properly.

“I have spoken to the tenant who is coming. He will be running the ground floor pub and will be making it work. “He is an experienced man in this field and I’m sure he will do well. The pub will be re-decorated for when it re-opens in the next few weeks.”

Mr Boughton estimates the renovation will be finished within a few months.

News of the pub’s reopening will be a boost for St John’s which has seen several shops and businesses close in recent months.

St John’s county councillor Richard Udall said: “The Bush Inn has always had a good reputation for being a good community pub and it’s welcome news that it’s being re-launched.

“St John’s is the village in the city and the community needs pubs to continue trading so people keep coming here to boost our economy.”

Worcester City Council is due to make a decision on the planning application in the next few weeks.