THE OWNER of a much-loved Flintshire pub is aiming to re-open it under a new look in the spring time of 2024.

The Druid Inn, said to date back to the 12th century, has been a popular village local and dining pub for several years.

Earlier this year, the Leader reported that the venue, located at Gorsedd near Holywell, had been taken over by new owners.

Publican Jerry Brunning announced the purchase for his Chester-based Pubs Ltd group, who bought the site from North West brewer Daniel Thwaites. 

There were plans in place for a ‘careful renovation’ before re-launch, planned for early 2024. 

Now, Mr Brunning has confirmed that there is hope that the pub will re-open in March 2024.

A statement added that the team has also found a new manager to run the venue when it is up and running.

A statement posted to the pub's official Facebook page, read: "Finding the right person to run The Druid when it re-opens is a milestone in the project and we’re really pleased to announce who that person will be.

"Familiar to many of you and a true local himself, we’re delighted to be welcoming Ray Faulder-Jones to Pubs Limited."

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The statement added: "Ray completely appreciates what we’re about and how we like to run our pubs, and will officially start in the New Year. He’ll be a big part of the rest of the project, as well as spending some time in our other pubs to get used to how we do things day-to-day. He knows them well - he’ll just be on the other side of the bar for a change. He can’t wait to get going and wanted to pass on a message, too.

“He said; 'Having lived in Pantasaph since 2009 and worked at The Druid previously, I know how important this pub is to our community. When Pubs Limited purchased the building I knew something special was going to happen'.

"'I’ve enjoyed visiting the other establishments in the group as a customer and I can see how the look and feel is going to compliment the building. So, I’m absolutely thrilled to be the new General Manager of The Druid. I look forward to welcoming customers, old and new, into a comfortable environment that provides great service, and of course good food and drink!'

"We’d like to wish all of you a very Happy Christmas and New Year. The amount of community engagement in The Druid is fantastic; we’ve already met a lot of the pub’s fans and locals and are really looking forward to welcoming you in, all being well, in March 2024."

Born in Bangor and educated in Colwyn Bay, 67-year-old Mr Brunning has strong links with the region and its pubs sector; his father owned the Royal Hotel in Capel Curig, now the Plas y Brenin outdoor centre, while his aunt, Ellaline Bunney, ran the West Arms hotel in Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog for 40 years.

Launching Brunning & Price in the early 1980s with pubs in the south of England, he moved the business north to create Chester’s Old Harkers Arms from an abandoned chandlery in 1989. 

He then opened several venues across North Wales: Wrexham’s Pant-yr-Ochain, the Corn Mill, Llangollen, the Glasfryn in Mold and the Pen-y-Bryn at Colwyn Bay. He sold Brunning & Price in 2007.

The Pubs Ltd group now includes the Black Bear in Whitchurch, the Hare at Farndon, Chester’s Henry Potts in Watergate Street - opened just one year ago in the heart of the city - and the award-winning Swan at Marbury cum Quoisley, near Nantwich.