A PUB in Ludlow has benefitted from an improvement grant scheme to help businesses.

When Tim and Jane Vaughan first arrived at The Queens in Ludlow in 1999 it was boarded up.

Fifteen years on and having bought the freehold from Punch Taverns five years ago, it is now a thriving independent pub.

Now, following a Redundant Buildings Grant from the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), they have extended with the opening of three luxury rooms in former outbuildings and a stable block.

The transformation of The Queens started in 2009 when The Vaughans set about completely renovating the pub with new toilets being installed, oak flooring being laid, the garden being given a make-over, and bi-fold doors opening on to a Juliet balcony.

They invested £75,000 and their efforts have been well rewarded with sales of both food and drink increasing; CAMRA recognising them in the Good Beer Guide for the last two years; and success in a number of awards at the Ludlow Food and Drink Festival.

However, they considered that they needed to do more to remain competitive.

“Taking on the freehold of the pub allowed us to purchase beers and spirits of our choosing and increase our profit margins, while focusing on locally sourced, homemade food has been well received by the discerning local clientèle,” said Mr Vaughan.

“However, as everyone knows Ludlow is an incredibly competitive market so we’ve always considered how we could go the extra step to attract new customers. The disused outbuildings and stable block out the back proved to be the perfect solution.

“Converting this area in to semi self-catering accommodation was something we had pondered ever since taking on the freehold and when a contact of ours at Hobsons Brewery mentioned the Redundant Buildings Grant it gave us the impetus to move forward with the project.”

The conversion has allowed Tim and Jane to carry out a complete transformation of the redundant buildings from near-dereliction to luxury cottages offering kitchenette areas, bathrooms and seating areas.

Graham Wynn, chairman of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership said that the grant has enabled the business to grow and create additional jobs.