A pub in Oxfordshire has had its pub furniture rescued, its building saved and its interior refurbished thanks to the estate of Lord Francis Phillimore.
The Bottle and Glass in Binfield Heath closed a year ago with the departure of its former landlord, and its owners, Brakspear, were reportedly close to allowing it to be demolished and replaced with houses.
But the local community's fears for the 400-year-old Grade II listed thatched pub were finally put to rest with a half-million-pound donation from the estate.
Adrian Beales, an agent acting for the estate, explained: "They wanted to help the community and try to save it as a pub."
It is also hoped that, once it is let and reopens, the pub will sell beer from the Lord's own Loddon Brewery, located on the Phillimore estate.
At over £400,000, it's a hefty investment for the retired barrister, but one that is likely to be welcomed by the 700 residents of the village, whose pub has hopefully been saved for a long time to come.
Images of the pub from before its closure show a traditional interior, with spindle-backed wooden pub chairs and dark wood tables.
Wooden beams across the ceiling with white painted plasterwork complete the image of a classic English pub with a heritage dating back several centuries.
Add to this the half-timbered effect of the front wall and the thatched roof on the main building, and it's easy to see why the local residents - and the landowner - wanted to save the Bottle and Glass from demolition.
Until the pub is leased and reopens, it is likely that the refurbishment will be kept largely under wraps, but with Grade II listed status on the building it is unlikely to represent much of a departure from its former guise.
For venues hoping to emulate this traditional welcoming interior, complete with wood-burning stoves, dark wood pub furniture is a good starting point.
This brings elegance and practicality to your seating plan, making it particularly well suited to countryside locations where muddy boots and even muddy paws might be a daily occurrence.