THIS old country pub was once gift-wrapped in a gigantic bow as a present to the village, proof that a little love (and a pretty penny) goes a long way to bringing neglected places back to life.
As a publicity stunt it was a masterstroke - decorating The King's Arms in Ombersley, near Worcester with a massive red bow, leaving gobsmacked drivers gawping in stunned disbelief.
Certainly it was a bold - if slightly surreal - marketing move which generated a fever of anticipation ahead of the grand reopening.
Now, eight months on from this early 'Christmas present' to the village, the pub has emerged Phoenix-like from the proverbial ashes.
Managers hope the return of the King will be the gift that keeps on giving. So far, so good. The King's Arms, it seems, has won back its crown and given this old jewel something more than a spit and polish.
It has rekindled an old flame - Ombersley seems to have fallen in love with the pub again judging by the crowds that returned on Christmas Eve.
You would struggle to find a more lovely setting for a pub - Ombersley surely must be one of the county's most picturesque villages, a vision of a bygone England.
However, this pub is not stuck in the past. Far from it.
The grade II pub reopened on November 16 last year after 'significant' investment in a refurbishment inside and out, conserving the historic features for which the pub is rightly celebrated.
The free house is a cosy, intimate, timber-framed building with crooked beams, bought by an entrepreneur and businessman, Tim Hopkins, the chief executive officer of the Gemini Group.
Mark Bevan, managing director of Gemini Hospitality Group which operates the pub (and who devised the red bow idea), said: "It was an unloved pub. We have brought the love back and tried to listen to the feedback from the village."
This involved making the pub not only a place for food but somewhere to drink and socialise, a meeting place. Served by a car park with 50 spaces, the pub is just off the A4449, making it easy to access whether you live in Worcester or Kidderminster or Stourport.
He added: "Reaction in the village has been favourable. I think they have been very happy that The King's Arms has been brought back to life. It was one of the favourites of the village. We didn't quite appreciate that until it came to Christmas Eve and we opened in the evening for drinks.
"They said that was a tradition. It was packed. You could not get in the front door. It was good to see everyone enjoying the place again. We have brought it back to life, given it some love."
This is a place which cherishes its roots in Worcestershire - the ingredients for the food and the beers are all locally sourced and most things are made 'in-house'.
For example, the meat comes from Checketts of Ombersley and The Butcheress and all the bread they use is made there.
Other locally sourced ingredients are seasonal and efforts are made to support local producers.
The pub is open Monday to Saturday between noon and 11pm (food served between noon and 9pm) and on Sundays between noon and 6pm (food served between noon and 4.30pm).
Head chef Natasha Creamer, who has 17 years of experience in the trade, oversees the kitchen which produces a range of starters and mains including Shawarma Chicken Skewers with flatbread, hot sauce, mint yoghurt and coriander and pickled white crab and prawns on toasted sourdough with brown crab aioli, prawn and pickled cucumber.
From the grill there are a range of mains including beef burgers, Cajun sweet potato and chickpea burgers and gammon steaks.
Local breweries are also supported including HPA (£4.75) and Wye Valley Bitter (£4.25), both from the Wye Valley Brewery.
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One of the most interesting developments is a 'collaboration' between Wildjac, based in Bewdley, and the pub, with Rhubarb Gin a popular choice.
The building is dated, in parts, to 1411, with later additions in the 17th and 19th century. It was reputed to be on the escape route of King Charles II after his escape from the Battle of Worcester, the last battle of the English Civil War on September 3, 1651.
Quirky and original design features include the early 17th century plasterwork showing a Tudor Rose, a mermaid and the Royal Arms.
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