Work set to take place at the Elmswell Tavern in March

A contract has been signed for a makeover and extension at the Elmswell Tavern (pictured above) set to take up to 18 weeks to complete.

The agreement has been drawn up between Elmswell Parish Council, which now owns the building, and Stroods Specialist Contractors from West Mersea.

They were chosen after a thorough selection process that looked at 11 different companies.

The total cost for the project is £464,293, but there is likely to be further spending required.

Peter Dow, the parish clerk, said that the project at the community pub will be covered by a £500,000 fund from Mid Suffolk District Council.

Stroods are planning to start work in March and hope to wrap it up in about 18 weeks. So, by late summer, customers could be enjoying a pint at the Tavern again.

Mr Dow praised Stroods for their experience, especially since they’ve worked on several Greene King pubs recently. Plus, they have their own workshops, which means they can create a custom bar for the Tavern.

While there are some additional costs not included in the contract, like drainage and parking, the council has around £150,000 extra to help cover those expenses.

The Tavern was purchased from Greene King, with the village’s agreement, in 2020 for £805,000 by the parish council.

Advertisements inviting expressions of interest from architects resulted in the appointment of Donani Design of Beyton in 2023 and their scheme gained planning permission in February 2024.