ARKELL’S Brewery is on the hunt for an entrepreneurial new landlord for its pub The Tavern Inn at Kemble, which sits next to the busy railway station.

After a new 300-space car park was opened behind The Tavern this summer, Arkell’s says the pub is entering a new era of opportunity.

Brewery managing director, George Arkell, said: “The new car park will significantly boost footfall past the pub, and there are lots of opportunities for landlords to offer much more to passing commuters than it’s ever been able to do before.”

Kemble station, which is used by over 180,000 people ever year, has no permanent refreshment facility and the brewery says it will support and encourage innovative landlords to expand the pub’s food and drink offer – but there are other ways to diversify.

“Station concourses in larger cities offer everything from florists and dry cleaning to take-away food. There’s no reason why The Tavern can’t do this too,” added George.

“And as the pub sits on around an acre of land overlooking countryside, there’s the opportunity to host events there.”

The number of people using the train to commute is rising.

According to the government’s Office of Rail and Road (ORR), Journeys within the South West region rose by 2.1 per cent to 25.3 million in 2015-16, and they’re still rising.

The Tavern Inn didn’t start off as a pub.

It was originally a coffee house which opened in the 1890s to compensate for the railway station’s lack of refreshment rooms.

It didn’t become a pub until 1946, and Arkell’s bought it five years’ later.

“It’s funny how history tends to repeat itself,” said George.

“With the huge rise in coffee houses, the primary reason for opening The Tavern at Kemble way back in the 1900s may be the part of the reason for its future success.”

Arkell’s is keen to hear from new, entrepreneurial or experienced landlords. Contact the brewery on arkells@arkells.com for an application form.