A LANDLORD is hoping to turn a once vibrant village pub back into the community hub that it once was.

David Blayney and his wife Margaret have taken over the tenancy of The Hand and Shears pub, Church Hanborough.

The pub — the only one in the village — has had an indifferent time over the past two years since it was bought by brewery Charles Wells.

Mr Blayney, 57, explained: “The brewery brought in a management company to run the pub, and they would open it when they wanted to.

“People would find it open on a Thursday – and come back the next day, and it would be closed.

“It had got to the stage where a few of the locals were actually thinking of buying the pub themselves.

“They wanted it to be opened properly again.

“It’s a community thing, and this is the only pub in the village.”

Mr Blayney said he would be relying on his 40 years of experience working in the pub industry to ensure it is a success.

He added: “We want to get the community out, and we are offering a comfortable setting, affordable food, and good beer.

“The brewery has already spent about £200,000 on the pub since it bought it, so it will just be a case of us putting our own stamp on the place.

“Over the past 40 years, my wife and I have gone from place to place, taking on places in trouble and turning them around.

“Now we just want to settle down and stay somewhere for good.

“None of us are getting any younger, we want somewhere to keep our slippers under the bed.”

The couple are now planning on holding a special opening event on Thursday, May 7, where they will be throwing the pub’s doors open to the village.

“We will be putting on some reception drinks, a free buffet, and some live music for everyone.

“We just want everyone to come out and have fun and enjoy themselves and see what the pub is like.

“It was the hub of the village, and we hope that we can make it that again.”