THE landlords of a country pub re-opening next week fear trade will drop off the following week due to nearby roadworks.

Jane Bishop and Tim Young are re-opening The Farmers Arms, at Combe Florey, next Wednesday (April 14).

It will be the first time they have welcomed customers in months following lockdown.

Measures coming into effect on Monday will allow pubs to open in outdoor areas.

But after five days, the couple expect a fall in trade due to a road closure of a section of the A358 outside their pub.

Highways staff are resurfacing the road and the work has been advertised to last from Monday, April 19, until Friday, April 23.

Ms Bishop said: "We put in a lot of work to make the garden lovely and are looking forward to welcoming back our customers.

"We're fully booked from Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner next week, but then five days later the road closure is going to impact things,

"We're horrified. It will lose us a lot of trade.

"They've had months to do this. Why do it now just as we re-open?

"It shows no regard for anyone in business in the area, particularly after we've been struggling during lockdown."

A Somerset County Council spokesperson said: “We’ve carried out a significant number of works during lockdown, including major repairs to the roadside embankment and improvements to the highway drainage system on the stretch of A358 near to this location.

“Resurfacing works have still had to be prioritised in order of urgency and it’s inevitable this work will need to continue as we move out of lockdown – fortunately this particular work will have been completed well before the full removal of restrictions and summer holidays. We will ensure disruption is kept to a minimum. 

“The A358 will be closed to through traffic between 9:30 am and 3:30 pm for five days, Monday 19th April to Friday 23rd April.  The road will be re-opened to traffic outside of these times.”