A FAMILY-friendly pub is reopening today under new management and owners cannot wait to welcome customers inside.

The Silent Woman Inn, near Wareham, reopens today under the management of Barr and Barr Hospitality, who already have two pubs in West Sussex. The owners are thrilled to be opening despite it coinciding with additional government restrictions to try to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Rob Barr, owner, said: "We want to be a family-friendly hub in this community. Our vision is to welcome people from across the generations to come and enjoy locally-sourced, sustainable food in a warm environment.

"We have got all the necessary safety measures in place to reduce the risk of coronavirus. This is such a trying time and we want our customers to have the confidence to come here and enjoy themselves because we want to be here for forever and a day."

The pub will run its own version of the government's 'Eat Out To Help Out' scheme where customers will receive 50 per cent off their bill up to £10 per head on food and soft drinks throughout October.

Rob said: "People in our community have missed out on that offer while the pub was closed so we can extend that into October so guests can have the opportunity to come and enjoy our food and drink with a discount. We just ask that people book in advance so we know how many tables we will have."

The venue is reopening just days after the government announced pubs must be shut by 10pm. General manager Danielle Brown does not think that will stop the pub's success.

She said: "I am just so happy and grateful that we can open at all and we can keep everyone safe so I am happy to take on these new rules if it means we can still open to our amazing new customers and I don't think the 10.00pm closing time will affect us too much."

The pub will also offer apprenticeships to students from Weymouth and Brockenhurst colleges.

Danielle added: "We want to grow with the community and give something back. We will offer apprenticeships for students interested in becoming front of house staff or chefs and hopefully those pupils will become future business managers."

To book a table, visit the Silent Woman Inn website.