A MAN has fulfilled his dream of working in the hospitality business after taking over a pub near Chipping Campden.

Paul Denton, who used to work in marketing and public relations in London, took over the Seagrave Arms, in Weston-sub-Edge, at the beginning of February.

The family-run pub, which also offers a restaurant and eight bedrooms, was one of two businesses bought in the Cotswolds in the last year.

Mr Denton, who also works with his brother and sister-in-law, also bought The Malt House, an historic 16th Century country guest house in Broad Campden which is run by his mother June.

The Grade II-listed former malting house re-opened just before the Cheltenham Festival last month, after a £500,000 refurbishment.

Mr Denton, who lives in a barn conversion on the premises in Weston-sub-Edge, said they had not made too many changes to the pub except making the bar area more welcoming for punters who just wanted a drink and revamping the menu.

"It's been going really well," he said. "We didn't buy the Seagrave to change it. We liked the building and the nature of the business we're running.

"We found the bar area hasn't been welcoming for locals to come in for a drink as it was run much more as a restaurant.

"I'm opening it much more to the community and filling the bar at night for the locals who want to come in for a drink."

The pub has also welcomed a new head chef, Chris Weatherstone, who has previously worked at The Lords of the Manor, in Upper Slaughter.

Offering a 'modern British' seasonal menu, food is locally-sourced within a 10-mile radius.

Mr Denton said moving into the hospitality trade was always something he had wanted to do.

"I had always wanted to have a B&B," he said. "My dream was to do it in Tuscany but the Cotswolds was slightly closer. This was just a new challenge."

Peter Brunt, Hotels director at Colliers International which handled the sale, said: “Our clients bought the property from a pub company and was something of a wreck when they took it on.

"They re-opened the business in July 2010 and their vision and attention to detail has produced a lovely business that is easy to take over and continue to trade.”