A COUPLE are revamping a village pub that has been closed for more than a year.

Susan Poole and Victor Roome are the new owners of The Square and Compasses in Fuller Street, near Terling, which ceased trading in February 2006.

The couple are currently sprucing it up and hope to reopen the pub in November.

It is their first business venture - Mr Roome, 47, previously managed Burstead Golf Club for ten years, while his partner works for a bank in the City.

Mr Roome, who has also run pubs and hotels, said they spent three years looking for a freehold pub before they found The Square and Compasses.

"This is our first venture as I've always been an employed person. It is good fun and I'm looking forward to it," he said.

The couple, who are doing much of the redecoration work themselves, want it to be a traditional pub serving good food and beer.

Before it closed last year, the pub enjoyed a reputation as a food-led freehouse and was listed in the AA and Michelin guides.

Mr Roome said they will be making use of local produce to cook homemade, traditional pub food with some special dishes.

The couple bought The Square and Compasses from previous owners Howard Potts and Ginny Austin through property agents Christie + Co.