The surgeon ending a five-year pub drought

The Coryton Arms is expected to open in time for Christmas

Residents of a village in Cornwall say they are looking forward to the reopening of their local pub after a five-year absence.

The Coryton Arms in St Mellion closed in 2019 - leaving the village without a pub.

It had fallen into disrepair before it was purchased by David Stell, a surgeon at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, who has worked to renovate it.

Mr Stell said he wanted to "put it back to the way it was, the way it should be".

David Stell hopes the pub will be open in the next two weeks

The Coryton Arms will be an independent pub owned by Mr Stell whilst he continues his work as a surgeon at Derriford Hospital.

He said: "It's been a very big investment in money and time and pubs are closing all over the place so we have to do something special that gets people to come here.

"The first pint I sell I will be a very happy man, the amount of work we have put into this."

Mr Stell said he was looking forward to having locals in "sitting around the fire".

The opening comes after the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said 500 pubs closed nationally last year, warning a similar number could be lost this year.

'The pub is a hub'

According to the BBPA, 46% of people living in the South West said a "good local pub" is a top priority when it comes to choosing a new home.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said: "They are also a sign of real social value in their communities and good pubs offer so much more than a quality pint."

Amanda Copson, who lives two doors away from the pub, said the village was "very, very lucky to have somebody who was willing to take a risk".

She said: "It'll make a huge amount of difference - the pub is a hub.

"I feel we've all got to do our bit and drink the beer, and when they have food, eat the food, and use it as a social hub."