Couple buy their dream pub

A couple with considerable experience in the hospitality trade have fulfilled a dream of buying their own olde-worlde pub. Trevor and Diane Crouchen have bought the 16th-century Manor Arms in the picturesque village of North Perrott near the Somerset and Dorset border. The couple gained considerable experience running the Great Western Hotel outside St David's railway station in Exeter. Sadly, following the owner's retirement, the hotel was sold this year and Trevor and Diane took the opportunity to acquire their own freehold business. They approached property agent Bettesworths, which offered them the Manor Arms, the only pub in North Perrott, which they immediately fell in love with. "It was the perfect choice for us because it offered the three areas where we have considerable skill and experience ­ the bar, the restaurant and accommodation," explained Trevor. During their time at the Great Western, the pair won several awards from Camra (Campaign for Real Ale) for their choice of cask-conditioned ales. They won the Exeter and East Devon Camra Real Ale Pub of the Year in 2000 and again in 2002 and in the latter year went on to become runners-up in the South West Real Ale Pub of the Year. Trevor plans to introduce a fine selection of cask ales from around the Somerset, Dorset and Devon region. Matt Bettesworth, of Bettes-worths, said the Manor Arms was a thriving village pub with a reputation for quality food and fine wines. The pub was sold in an off-market deal off an asking price of £450,000 for the freehold.