A DEVON pub that has been closed for two years could re-open after a chance visit to the village by a potential buyer.

Mr Kit Hepple, who currently lives in Berkshire, and his wife Monique, discovered the Molesworth Arms in Pyworthy when they were staying with friends, and went to the village to borrow a concrete loader.

Mr Hepple, a chartered surveyor, and Mrs Hepple, a landscape gardener, attended a meeting held by ‘The Pyworthy Action Group’ last week.

The pub closed in August 2013, and had been added to Torridge District Council’s list of assets of community value on October 30 of that year.

This listing meant that upon its sale, the community would have a chance to delay a sale in order to prepare a bid to buy it.

According to the council’s list, the owner of the Molesworth Arms ‘notified relevant disposal’ on July 3.

This prompted last week’s meeting, which was held to discuss the potential of purchasing the pub as a co-operative. Around 60 people attended.

Mr Hepple explained to the meeting his intentions of buying the property to run as a pub.

Those present put questions to Mr Hepple, and a show of hands indicated they were happy for him to continue his negotiations to potentially buy the pub.

John Burnard, who chaired last week’s meeting, said the action group was therefore notifying Torridge District Council that they are not intending to put in a bid.

Mr Hepple stressed to the Post that contracts have not been exchanged yet, but that terms have been agreed and they are ‘hoping to move forward’ to run the Molesworth Arms ‘very much as a pub’.

He said: “My wife saw the pub shut up and asked what the story was behind it. We tracked down the owner and it went from there.

“We are acutely aware of the fact it is the only focal point left for the village. It has a very real importance and we appreciate and realise that.

“We are very excited about bringing it back to life. We will be living there on the premises and hands-on.

“Hopefully, step-by-step we can build it back up to a viable working pub. It’s not going to be a gastro pub or anything fancy. Hopefully, we will end up running a proper pub with interesting and good value food and at the same time recognising the needs of Pyworthy villagers.

“If all goes according to plan, we hope to be up and running this side of Christmas.”

Mr Hepple, who said he has had a ‘bit of’ experience, having owned a wine bar in the 1980s, added: “I’m going to close my private practice and this is a full-time venture for us.

“We are selling our home in Berkshire. As and when that exchanges we will be in a position to exchange contracts for the pub.”

Mr Hepple added they are not looking to change the name of the pub or expand it.