A COUPLE persuaded to return to the pub trade after falling in love with a village inn are on course to complete their dream watering hole with the opening of a new extension.

Sue and Stephen Bant invited Inspector Morse author Colin Dexter to cut the ribbon and open the new £150,000 extension at the Prince of Wales pub in Iffley.

The couple, who have two children and four grandchildren, had all but retired from the trade after managing pubs in Birmingham and then Worcester for 40 years.

Three years ago they sold their pub and took a break to manage chalets in the French Alps, but were persuaded to get back behind the bar when they saw the Iffley pub advertised online and learned the Wadworth brewery had big plans for it.

Mrs Bant said: “The pub found us, we didn’t find the pub. We saw the pub on the market and came to take a look at it.

“The locals seemed so welcoming that we decided to stay.

“We really were on the point of retiring and it had to be a special pub to bring us back into the trade.”

Mrs Bant admitted one of the things that attracted the couple to the pub was the fact the brewery had plans for the extension.

She said: “The new room is very light and airy. There are lots of windows and a big sunlight roof and leads straight out onto the garden.

“We’re very pleased. The feedback from the customers has all been positive.”

Mrs Bant said Mr Dexter liked to come in for his lunch at least once each week, enjoying tucking into a light lunch of salmon or haddock and having a chat with the locals.

She added: “It would actually make a great location for a Morse episode.

“The thing that attracted us is Iffley is such a great village. People come to see the Norman church and we get a lot of tourists who love to pose in front of the sign because it’s the Prince of Wales.”

“A lot of people also like to come in after boating on the river because it’s quite near the river.

“It’s the heart of the village.”

She said: “ Mrs Bant said the couple plan to keep the pub popular for a long time to come with plans to bring back retro basket meals and morning openings for coffee and brunch.

She said: “It’s a challenge in this trade anywhere you are and you have to keep coming up with new ideas, but it’s very rewarding to see people go home happy.”

The couple plan to stay at the pub for at least three years.

The Prince of Wales opens at 10am for brunch and closes at midnight daily.