A HISTORIC pub has re-opened after new owners took over.

The Barge Inn, in High Road, Vange, closed after a New Years Eve party but it has now been taken over by Michael and Margaret Blackmore with the 200-year old pub opening on Wednesday evening.

It is thought that the pub closed at the turn of the year because the previous landlords, Emma and Clive Langley, ran into financial difficulty and were not able to keep the barge afloat. 

Mr Blackmore says he is looking forward to bringing the pub back to life. “My wife is from Vange and we had been to the pub on a number of occasions to have an afternoon drink and it would have been a travesty to see it stay shut.”

The saloon bar has been re-furbished and the bar has been re-painted with plans to re-fit the kitchen in the pipeline.

Mr Blackmore confirmed the pub was introducing a new Diamond Club card for over 60s, where reduced prices will apply over lunch, and SkySports for football fans.