A COUNTRY pub closed for nearly four months has been saved after it was acquired by award-winning entrepreneurs and returned to its more traditional roots.
The Royal Oak in Leigh Sinton near Malvern is due to reopen today (Good Friday) at 4pm as the team put their last minute finishing touches on the place before welcoming customers back.
Now The Royal Oak joins a family of successful and award-winning pubs including The Rose and Crown in Severn Stoke, The King's Head in Sidbury in Worcester and The Cock and Magpie and Bewdley.
Andy Goodall (who runs the Rose and Crown) and Matt Collins (who runs the King's Head) have been working to get the Royal Oak ready. The Royal Oak is Mr Goodall's local and he could not resist the opportunity to take it on.
Mr Goodall said he hoped the pub could once again make the heart of the village 'vibrant and welcoming'.
He added: "With the support of the locals, the Royal Oak is poised to once again become a thriving hub for socialising, dining, and creating cherished memories."
A brand new oak bar features in the revamped pub while customers can expect real ales as well as Peroni, San Miguel beer and Carlsberg.
Mr Goodall said: "I'm expecting it to be busy over Easter. We've brought it back to being a traditional pub. It was all painted powder pink and blue before - it was like something from Barbie and Ken.
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"It's now got that traditional village feel again. Over time we plan to bring the whole place up to a fantastic standard, similar to our other establishments."
The Rose and Crown was crowned the greatest British pub in the Marston's awards last September, placing it firmly on the throne after it came out on top amongst over 1,550 Marston's pubs across England, Scotland and Wales.
The King's Head, part of the same group of pubs, is up for the same award this year which has left Mr Collins and Mr Goodall hoping for the double.
Mr Goodall is already in the quarter finals for the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) Licensee of the Year 2024 for his work at the Rose and Crown in Severn Stoke.
The winners are expected to be announced in June.
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