A Herefordshire village pub closed for nearly five years is set to reopen under new management.

Stuart Addis has applied for a premises licence for the Old Boot in Wellington, between Hereford and Leominster, which closed at short notice in October 2019.

Mr Addis told the Save The Old Boot At Wellington Facebook group that “after many frustrating delays” he and his partner Birute “will be completing the purchase of The Old Boot at the start of September” with a view to opening it early next year.

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“We plan to make Wellington our home, and develop a business that both benefits and fits in with the local community desires,” he said.

The campaign group said in response to Mr Addis’ licensing application: “Hopefully he will be able to open up the pub sooner than later so that it can start trading again, something we are of course very supportive of and looking forward to.”

The application describes the Old Boot as a “traditional detached village public house [with] open-plan ground-floor bar restaurant and trade gardens”.

This seeks permission to serve alcohol between 10am and 11pm Mondays to Saturdays, and noon to 10:30pm on Sundays.

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The licence, if granted, would also permit live and recorded music, showing of films and indoor sporting events within these times.

An exception would be for New Year’s Eve, when it would open until 1am.

Comments on the licensing application can be made to Herefordshire Council until September 18.

The pub was put on the market at the start of this year after a controversial bid by its previous owners to build a substantial house in its grounds was refused planning permission.