A VILLAGE pub which has been closed for 18 months could be given a new lease of life, with its owners now in final discussions with a potential new landlord.

Plans have been submitted to Sedgemoor District Council for a refurbishment of the Bath Arms in Bath Street, Cheddar.

Owner Enterprise Inns hopes to refurbish the main trading areas and improve access for people with mobility problems.

A spokesman for the pub chain said: “We are in final discussions with a potential new publican for the Bath Arms and aim for the pub to resume trading once they have taken occupancy.

“The Bath Arms has excellent facilities and we are looking at plans to invest in the site to help it reach its potential as a great community pub, hotel and restaurant.”

Enterprise Inns aims to provide more ‘flexible trading areas’, including a function room, dining and drinking areas and a skittle league area.

The company also hopes to overhaul land outside of the building and add raised plant beds to the outside drinking area.

Mel Clinton, chairman of community group My Cheddar, said: “I think the fact that it could come back into use is really good news.

“It is at the heart of the village and a very prominent building.

“One of our aspirations is to bring more life into the centre and the Bath Arms could play a big role in that.

“It is a big building, and one of the challenges has been maintaining it and it needs investment, which they are proposing now.

“In the past, a lack of investment has stopped it realising its potential as fully as it could.”