THIS rural country pub was closed off from the public for almost two years.

But the 18th century pub Travellers Rest, in Newtown, Fareham, was brought back to life by married couple Scott and Kerry Wakefield.

With fond memories of staying at the pub’s onsite camping grounds as a child, ex-property developer Scott decided to buy and reopen the site to the public in April 2018.

It was sold on to the pair after locals fought against the previous buyer’s plans to develop the site in 2017, and had the building upheld and protected as an Asset of Community Value, according to Scott.

The pub sells a selection of drinks and homemade food, and provides a tent and caravan campsite for visitors.

Scott said: “I know about the pub and have been coming here for years, so we bought it.

“People like that the pub has a campsite, as they can have drinks and a bite to eat, and stay in the campsite after.

“I enjoy the social side of the bar.”

Boasting a four-star rating on review site TripAdvisor, Scott cooks all of the food on the menu himself, including dishes such as lasagne, steak and ale pies, and beer-battered fish and chips.

He added: “We also do a Sunday roast, which lots of people say is like their mum used to cook it.

“The pub and campsite has been going well since we opened, but a lot of people don’t realise it is open again.”

Multiple wood burners fill each wall of the traditional pub, and a beer garden is situated out the back.

Open from 4pm on weekdays and 12pm on weekends, they host a meat raffle every Friday, along with live music and entertainment every weekend.

Their most popular event takes place every August bank holiday, which involves a three-day music festival that usually brings in around 200 guests.

Families can enjoy live music, a barbecue, ciders, marquees and barrels of hay to relax on during the festival.