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'We restored a 600-year-old village pub'

Gavin Kermack
BBC News, West Midlands
Kate Justice
BBC Hereford & Worcester
BBC A young man with short dark hair and glasses, wearing a dark grey sweater, stands smiling at the camera in front of some wood. His hands are hanging crossed in front of him.BBC
Ben Savidge said his family had no hospitality experience but were hoping to make the pub a success

A 15th Century pub has reopened after being closed since 2022.

The Crown Inn at Lea, near Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, has been owned by the Savidges, a local farming family, for the past 20 years and most recently operated as an Indian restaurant.

But nearly three years after it shut its doors, the family has taken over the running of the business themselves and turned it back into a traditional pub.

"Hospitality is completely new to us, not something we've ever done before," said Ben Savidge, whose parents Mark and Rose own the building. "Hopefully we've made the right decision in taking on this challenge."

Although the building itself dates back 600 years, various additions have been made to it over the centuries.

"We've tried to correct some of the areas where things haven't been suited and have covered up the historic nature of the building," said Mr Savidge.

"So we've exposed those areas and tried to do what we can to conserve this fantastic building."

Listen on BBC Sounds: 'How we restored a 600-year-old Herefordshire pub'

As much produce as possible will be sourced locally, including potatoes from the Savidges' own land a short distance away and beef and lamb from another family member's farm less than a mile away.

The bar top, as well as fittings including beams and doors, have been made from an oak tree which fell down on the family's fruit farm in Weston under Penyard.

"My grandfather always said that tree would outlast him," remembered Mr Savidge.

"He unfortunately passed away about two weeks before the tree came down, so they were neck and neck."

A man with short dark hair and a dark beard is wearing a dark blue and orange gilet-style jacket over a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and his hands in the pockets. He is standing in front of a building, the lower half of which is brick, and the top half of which has been painted white. A picture of a crown has been painted in black on the outside, with "THE CROWN INN LEA" painted underneath.
General manager Tom Howarth said he was looking forward to the pub being a community hub for the village

The pub's general manager, Tom Howarth, said it had been a "hard slog" to get the pub ready for opening night but he was looking forward to it becoming part of village life once more.

"The biggest thing for me is the community hub," he said. "A place where everybody can come and enjoy themselves."

Michelle Purkis, who runs the village shop, said it was "fantastic" that Lea had its own pub again.

"We've worked really hard to do our bit and now, with the pub, it will bring the village together," she said.

Mr Savidge said in the months leading up to the reopening, people were asking him about the pub "every day".

"So, fingers crossed, we can make it a success."

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