A BAR and restaurant in a village near Oswestry is set to re-open its doors with a new special drink after a 10-month-long closure.

The Sun Hotel in Llansantffraid closed in April last year after the business was left without a chef.

Since then, the management crew has been on the lookout for somebody else to fill the chef's whites, while working at other properties within the establishment.

Manager Lindsay Steele said: “We closed initially because we didn’t have any chefs.

“We have been trying to find a quality head chef and sous chef.

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“Our other staff worked at other properties we own in the village.

“We had opened for a few private functions.”

The crew at The Sun Hotel now wants to get back to the quality of service and reputation from before the closure.

Lindsay added: “Our new chef is really great and we want to get his menu out there – we want to get back to where we were before.

“We had a great reputation in the village and we intend to make it even better now.

“We have a modern European/British cuisine – very contemporary, full of flavour and just really good cooking.”

Border Counties Advertizer: The bar at The Sun Hotel ready for the Sun Gin.The bar at The Sun Hotel ready for the Sun Gin. (Image: The Sun Hotel)

The business is planning to relaunch with a twist, and will be selling “The Sun Gin” on re-opening day.

The business worked alongside local firm Henstone Distillery to make the craft drink.

The manager added: “We have joined forces with Henstone Distillery and we made our own gin.

“The Sun Gin will be launching at the same time with the re-opening.

“It’s a London Dry Gin but it’s got a real citrus-based flavour with lots of lemon and lime notes.”

The restaurant is now set to re-open on Thursday, February 22.

Lindsay said: “We are fully staffed and ready to go.

“The bookings are coming through for that first weekend fairly quickly.

“A couple of slots are already fully booked.

“I think it’s going to be a very busy weekend.

“Everyone is really excited for the opening and ready to get it up and running."