Rebuilt pub shut over rising costs to reopen

The pub closed due to escalating costs in December

A Grade II-listed thatched pub gutted by fire nine years ago after an ember from a chimney set light to the roof is set to reopen under new ownership.

The Clock House Inn at Chideock was all-but-destroyed in the fire on 6 April 2015 that took more than 14 fire crews to tackle.

After being rebuilt, the pub - known as The Clock, reopened in 2016.

It shut last year after previous owners Mike and Helen Long were unable to cope with escalating insurance premiums and rising running costs.

The pub was gutted by the fire on Easter Monday 2015

The pub's new owners Alex and Matt Mawhood said they were "incredibly grateful and excited to be joining the community".

Thanking the previous owners they said: "It is clear that they have had such an impact on the community, creating a fantastic place for all to gather at The Clock House with memories many cherish, we certainly have a high bar to meet."

The bar at the 16th Century pub is set to reopen from Friday evening with its kitchen expected to be up and running in the coming weeks.

Following the fire in 2015 the roof of the thatched pub collapsed