Sorrel Horse pub in Shottisham, near Woodbridge, taken over by Ryan Ashton

A landscaper hopes to bring the community together as he prepares to take over a village pub next month.

Ryan Ashton, 38, of Hollesley, said he is excited for a new venture after announcing he will be taking on the lease of the Sorrel Horse pub in Shottisham, near Woodbridge, on May 1.

Last month, the previous owners, Clement and Rebecca Murland, revealed they will be moving on form the venue after three years.

Having previously worked in hospitality, Ryan said he is ready to return to his roots after running his own landscaping business for 18 years.

“It’s something I wanted to get back into,” he said. “I started a mobile bar business more than a year ago and I got the bug for the hospitality industry again.”

Ryan hopes to open the pub in time for the first bank holiday in May.

Customers can look forward to live music, bingo as well as open mic and karaoke nights.

“I use the ethos ‘pub is the hub’, because it really is the heart of the community,” added Ryan.

“We will be more than a pub though. We will try to have a coffee mornings for the elderly.

“We also have an Airbnb above the pub, which we will use as a holiday let, and we a barn at the back, which we’ll run as a sports bar during the summer and for private hire, including baby showers and weddings.”

Ryan will be running the pub with his wife Emma.