Sam EmanuelA boarded-up Norfolk pub is set to be re-opened this month as a fine dining restaurant with a bar area.Sam Emanuel

A boarded-up Norfolk pub is set to be re-opened this month as a fine dining restaurant with a bar area.

The Old Feathers, in Framingham Pigot, which closed in June 2009 when its previous landlord left, has been taken over by experienced landlord Steven Clark, who will run it as a freehouse.

Mr Clark, who has recently moved to the county from Kent, where he ran a pub, is currently refurbishing the building ready to re-open it.

He said: 'We are refurbishing it at the moment and are going to paint the outside and put up a pagoda too. We are hoping to open in about three weeks, although we aren't sure of the exact date yet. We took it over on Friday and have already done a lot of work over the weekend.

'It's going to be a traditional fine dining English restaurant with an a la carte menu, and there will also be a bar area with a bar menu, which will have things more like cheesy nachos on.

'We are aiming the restaurant at the business market and people over 25 in particular, for business-type lunches, and the bar area is aimed at anyone really.

'My whole family has worked in the pub industry for years and so I am experienced and think I will be able to make a success of this. My family will be working in the background.'

Mr Clark thinks the building has a lot of potential as a traditional pub and restaurant because of its location on Loddon Road, off the A146, its ample car parking and its size.

Christie and Co, which sold Mr Clark the building, said that The Old Feathers is just one of several closed pubs sold recently for continued pub or restaurant use, and that these sales demonstrated there was still ongoing demand from existing or prospective publicans who recognise the opportunities provided by closed pubs.

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Do you have a pub-related story for us? Call reporter David Bale on 01603 772429 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk.