Peak District village’s only pub in idyllic location searching for new landlord

If you have ever dreamed of living or even working in the Peak District, today could be your lucky day. A prominent pub in the Peak District village of Longnor is in need of a new landlord.

Ye Old Cheshire Cheese Inn closed in November 2022 leaving locals without a watering hole. Luckily earlier this year Robinsons Brewery, which owns the pub, confirmed the establishment will open later this year, reports StokeOnTrent Live.

The pretty village, at one point, boasted four pubs for the 350 locals that call Longnor home. However, fears that the local pub scene was dead have been remedied after pub bosses announced the news.

Now Robinsons say the business is due for a revamp – and needs someone at the helm when it relaunches. A spokesperson for the company said: “We’re starting a refurbishment at the property soon, which is exciting. It’s going to look great. We’re currently recruiting a new licensee to run the business and re-open the venue.”

READ MORE: ‘Picture-perfect’ Peak District village centred around church known as Cathedral of the Peak

Under the revamp the drinks terrace at the front is also set to be overhauled to provide around 30 alfresco covers. In a post advertising for a landlord, Robinsons says it will undergo a “comprehensive programme of refurbishment” and the venue is in need of an “experienced operator”.

It states: “In need of updating, the pub is undergoing a comprehensive programme of refurbishment and we are seeking an experienced operator to re-open the Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, with a strong business plan to re-establish this pub at the centre of village life. The plan includes providing a quality food and drinks offer to complement the opportunity provided by the four letting bedrooms, whilst maintaining excellent standards throughout.”

The traditional pub boasts stone and timber floors, open fires and stoves and even has a detached barn over the road which plays host to four en-suite bedrooms. It is currently the only pub in the village and, according to Robinsons, caters for both local residents and visitors to the area.

Historians say Longnor can trace its origins back to the 13th century. Its idyllic setting – with pretty cottages and stunning views – has seen it appear in various television programmes.

They include the BBC’s 1995 adaptation of the Jane Austen novel Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, where the village was used for footage of the fictitious village of Lambton. It also was a filming location in the 90s ITV drama Peak Practice.