A FARMING family has stepped in to buy a village pub to ensure it stays at the heart of the community

The Fox Inn at Ansty has been taken over by the Wallis family of Brewery Farm - which is located opposite the pub - after it was put up for sale last year.

The pub will now also host a village party on Saturday, August 31, in which people can come along for food and live music to celebrate its new focus on the community. 

The family is determined to ensure that the pub is both a hub for local people to gather and gains a reputation to attract more people to visit.

A spokesman for the pub said: “We really wanted to ensure it remained its life as a pub for the community and neighbouring villages to continue enjoying.

“As well as providing a great environment for our locals, with good value beer, and excellent food, we are also working hard on reinstating The Fox Inn as the destination pub it was so famous for all those years ago.

“With great food using seasonal and local produce, lamb and beef raised on our very farm just opposite the pub.

“The carvery is set to return in the autumn and again we hope to re-establish the excellent reputation the carvery at The Fox once held. 

“The pub is set in beautiful rural Dorset with a network of footpaths and bridle paths providing miles of stunning walking and riding. 

“Dogs are incredibly welcome and with our newly fitted tying posts - horses are too.

“We also have accommodation available with delicious breakfasts not only for staying guests but also customers who may be passing by, wanting to arrange a breakfast catch up with friends or for a business meeting.”

The family took over the pub after it was put up for sale last autumn, and the spokesman said that they wished to preserve it as a community pub.

It came under the ownership of Brewery Farm on June 3, and the refurbishment took three weeks before it reopened its doors to the public. The event on August 31will raise money for a defibrillator for the village.

Find out more about the pub at foxinnansty.co.uk