MONKSILVER'S Notley Arms pub - closed since September - could be back in business by mid-July after being sold to new owners.

Simon and Caroline Murphy clinched the deal to buy the historic Grade Two listed pub last Friday.

And villagers wasted no time in raising a toast to its future following the couple's pledge to restore it to a traditional country inn at the heart of the community.

The Notley underwent a major refurbishment when it was bought by Bishops Lydeard-based businessman Colin Wilkins from Enterprise Inns plc in 2011.

But it closed its doors less than a year after it re-opened following the extensive refurbishment, which included converting the pub's former coaching stables into ten letting bedrooms.

Mr Murphy, a former civil servant and his wife, a teacher, sold their home in London last year and are preparing to embrace a new direction in their work and home life.

"We have been looking for the perfect business and the perfect place to live and we believe we have definitely found that in the Notley Arms and Monksilver," said Mr Murphy.

Having been born and brought up in the West Country, the couple were aware of the Exmoor and West Somerset area but "stumbled" across Monksilver by chance.

"We saw the pub advertised for sale and it was one of three businesses we were considering.

"But it didn't take us long to realise that the Notley Arms was the one for us."

The purchase took a while to complete, partly because Monksilver Parish Council and a village action group had successfully applied for the Notley to be listed as a community asset under the Localism Act 2011, protecting its status as a pub.

Although the previous owner Mr Wilkins had been unhappy about the listing, Mr Murphy said he had no concerns about the designation.

"We have no intention of running the Notley as anything other than a thriving community inn," he said.

Plans are in the pipeline to restore the interior of the pub to give it back "its original feel," with the installation of oak panelling, a flagstone floor and the replacement of the former oak-topped bar, alongside the landscaping of the gardens.

The Murphys also hope to reduce the ten letting rooms to six to make the accommodation more spacious.

"We want to give this old building the love and attention it deserves," said Mr Murphy.

"We want it to be a focus for local services and we realise that to make it economically viable we are going to have to offer everything from breakfast to afternoon tea.

"And the quality of the food will be vital so finding the right chef will be key to our success."

Before deciding to buy the Notley the Murphys met some of the villagers who they hope will support the business in the future.

"We wanted to meet people to get a sense of what the community was like and see if the business would be viable.

"But at the end of the day even though we now own the freehold, we see ourselves as nothing more than custodians of a very important community facility."

Monksilver Parish Council clerk Ross Urquhart said the sale of the pub had been welcomed by the village.

"The residents were delighted when they heard the news.

"Simon and Caroline Murphy's intention is to give us back a village inn that we can all be proud of, a country pub serving good quality food and drinks with a lively bar.

"As well as being the new owners of the Notley Arms, Simon and Caroline Murphy will become new members of our community and they have already started to get involved.

"The future looks rosy and we all raise a glass to that."