PAUL Cross and Niki Mitten have taken on the The Prince of Wales Inn, Holcombe Rogus, which they plan to reopen on Saturday, September 14.

The pub has changed hands numerous times over the past several years, and Paul and Niki are the latest tenants to take on the project which they saw as a “great opportunity.”

The 19th century country pub was bought by James Collins at the end of 2023. Despite advertising the tenancy opportunity nationally, Mr Collins was keen to have local tenants. It wasn’t until May of this year that Paul and Niki visited the pub for an informal viewing before signing the lease in June.

Initially, Paul and Niki visited a pub in Cullompton but they didn’t think it was quite right for them. They then visited The Prince of Wales Inn, knowing it was on the market having been in the area.

“Really, within sort of 30 minutes, we thought let’s get a proper view in on this. Let’s see what it’s like inside because the location felt great for us,” says Paul.

The Prince of Wales Inn closed in 2021 due to the covid-19 pandemic and in late 2022, the Holcombe Rogus community launched a campaign to save it. Although the villagers were unsuccessful in raising the required funds, Paul and Niki have been reassured by local enthusiasm for the success of the inn.

Paul said: “I think as a business we saw a great opportunity, but also the fact that it would be more than that. It would be somewhere that we could be part of the hub of the community.”

Having signed the lease on June 1 the tenants had initially hoped to have their new venture up and running in time for the European Championships Final on July 14. While they have had to reimagine their football-filled opening, they’re excited to get started.    

And it seems they will hit the ground running. Their opening hours are set to be Tuesday evening to Sunday evening, serving lunch from Wednesdays. On Tuesdays, they hope to host alternating food vans, including The Big Chipper, as well as offer live music to appeal to the demand of the locals.  

As part of Paul and Niki’s vision, they are also looking to open a small shop in the venue.

They have been talking to a charitable group ‘Pub is the Hub’, a not-for-profit organisation, offering independent advice and financial support to publicans. They spoke to a representative earlier this week.

“It was about the idea of us having a shop or an area within the pub that we would sell not just essentials, but some local produce as well. So, we've applied for funding,” said Paul.

Although the future of the shop is yet to be decided, the opening of the pub is sure to inspire excitement in Holcombe Rogus and its neighbouring villages.

The Prince of Wales Inn will open on Saturday, September 14