A Rutland pub has moved into offering food as it recovers from the pandemic.

The Noel Arms at Langham also has a new landlady, Vanessa McGuire, who took over the pub on Bridge Street during lockdown.

Vanessa had worked under the previous landlord and when the opportunity to take on the pub came through and it was too good to miss.

The pub's Charlotte Forster said: "It's the first pub that she's ran on her own and the local community is all coming together to help whether it be decorating the restaurant or helping with an electrical fault.

Vanessa also credits the pub regulars for giving her the confidence and the push she needed to take the leap.

The previous landlord mainly focused on the 'wet' (drinks) side of the business and food hasn't been served from the pub in over two years and unfortunately the decor, etc, was dated.

The restaurant was out of use is now in the process of being renovated, but in the mean time is running it's bar menu.

Vanessa took the pub over during lockdown so was not entitled to any grants and other government support so taking on the was a very risky move.

Charlotte continued: "But with the help of the local community it seems to have paid off. We spent lockdown painting and working with our chef to create a menu for when we reopened on the 4th of July.

"We're lucky that the pub is large and very open so we were able to integrate a one way system whilst keeping to social distancing guidelines, hand sanitiser is placed at both entrance and exits also in the toilets.

"We have a track and trace signing in system and staff take great care washing hands and taking all steps to ensure all safety measures are taken."

Charlotte says trade has been 'steady' and the pub would definitely like more customers!

She said: "Unfortunately due to Vanessa having only taken over the pub during lockdown, we were unable to take part in the eat out to help out scheme, which has obviously had an impact on trade.

"However, we are hoping that once the word has got around that we are serving food again after not doing so for two years, things will be better.

"We're pushing the advertising and creating a menu to suit everyone. We will have a steady food trade, we have a fantastic bunch of regulars who are more than happy to prop up the bar and who Vanessa is very grateful for."

Charlotte added the Noel Arms has something for everyone.

"Vanessa is extremely family oriented and furry friends are welcome too. We had a rodeo and BBQ event at the weekend and we have a Drag queen entertainer Betty Bangs on Friday September 18."