The Jolly Farmer pub in Blacknest is set to re-open - as The Barn Owl.

It was closed by Fuller’s on January 2, 2024, but has been bought by Brunning and Price, which also owns The Mill House in Hook, The Leather Bottle in Mattingley and The Refectory in Godalming.

The Binsted Road pub can trace its history back to the late 17th century when it was known as The Golden Farmer. After a spell as The Cricketers it moved to its current location in the 1820s and changed its name to The Jolly Farmer in 1823. It was rebuilt following an explosion in 1989.

Brunning and Price chief executive Mary Willcock said: “We think a new start deserves a new name, and after speaking with locals about the kind of wildlife seen around the pub, have decided to rename it The Barn Owl.

“Our pubs are traditional in style, making the most of the features that the building has to offer; wooden floors, bookcases, open fires, restored furniture, all finished with rugs and plants.

“The Jolly Farmer has great potential, and it is an honour to be breathing life back into a pub steeped in so much history. We did however think perhaps a name change was in order. This felt like a new start for the pub and so we looked for a fitting new name to reflect that.”

The menu at The Barn Owl will be published on the pub’s website every morning. It promises “something of an eclectic mix, striking a balance of hearty pub classics complemented by more exotic influences from around the world”.

Brunning and Price plans to start work on the pub next month and aims to have it open before Christmas. A full list of jobs available can be found at www.barnowlblacknest.co.uk