LANDLORDS Jamie Powell and Esme Mitchell found they were not the only new faces behind the bar at The Red Lion Inn, Little Compton, near Moreton.

Half a dozen villagers also stepped over the threshold to help the couple install a new bar and shelving as part of the redecoration of the pub’s interior.

Earlier in 2009, after years of running pubs across the country as relief managers, Jamie and Esme grew tired of living out of a suitcase.

Doing a short relief at The Farmers’ Arms, Guiting Power convinced them they wanted their own pub but only if a local brewery owned it.

The Farmers’ is among 15 pubs owned by Donnington Brewery within a 20-mile radius of its headquarters, near Stow.

So, when the opportunity to run the Donnington-owned Red Lion arose, Jamie and Esme leapt at the chance.

Esme said: “It’s different running a pub owned by a brewery, rather than a pub company.

“The Donnington staff know us all and it feels like being part of a family, which makes a huge difference as they understand the highs and lows of running a village pub.”