A village pub which has been closed for four years is gearing up to finally reopen to the public.

The Ostrich Inn in South Creake will open to the public on June 1, reopening the doors of the building for the first time since 2017, after the previous pub, Plume of Feathers, closed its doors.

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The Inn on Fakenham Road will be a pub and restaurant, and will also offer rooms inspired by the greenery of Norfolk, with all named after cooking herbs, including basil and lemon thyme.

Dereham Times: Andrea Zanchi, Duty Manager, Jo Pizer-inggs, Bar Manager/Sommelier, and Heather Pizer-inggs, Duty Manager, at The Ostrich Inn on Fakenham Road in South Creake. Picture: Danielle BoodenAndrea Zanchi, Duty Manager, Jo Pizer-inggs, Bar Manager/Sommelier, and Heather Pizer-inggs, Duty Manager, at The Ostrich Inn on Fakenham Road in South Creake. Picture: Danielle Booden (Image: Archant 2021)

Managing director Teresa Haughey said the first thing the team did was listen to the people in the village, who wanted the pub to get back to its roots.

“The community really wanted us to turn the name back to The Ostrich Inn. We had said it's always been The Ostrich Inn so we had to go back to its origin,” she said.

“I think it was a really good start with the community because people that have lived in the village for a very long time were quite upset that the name had changed.

Dereham Times: One of the rooms at The Ostrich Inn on Fakenham Road in South Creake. Picture: Danielle BoodenOne of the rooms at The Ostrich Inn on Fakenham Road in South Creake. Picture: Danielle Booden (Image: Archant 2021)

"We were really proud to give the Ostrich back to them.”

It will have main and pizza menus available, with dishes on its main menu including pan-fried crisp confit duck leg and black truffle risotto. There will also be an Asian-inspired tasting menu.

The pub was originally bought in September last year, and contractors have worked tirelessly through the lockdown and winter months to make sure they opened on time. Ms Haughey heaped praise on Arcadia and Grocott and Murfit for all the hard work through the renovation.

Dereham Times: One Community, Twelve Stories: Past, Present and Future (2021) by Ricardo Pimentel hanging at The Ostrich Inn in South Creake. Picture: Danielle BoodenOne Community, Twelve Stories: Past, Present and Future (2021) by Ricardo Pimentel hanging at The Ostrich Inn in South Creake. Picture: Danielle Booden (Image: Archant 2021)

The pub will offer locally sourced goods, as well as local art within its reception area. The team previously asked for local artists to pitch a piece that would go on display and the winner was Ricardo Pimentel, with his One Community, Twelve Stories piece now hanging proudly in the reception.

There was also space for second place, and Karen Adams' piece also is now on display in the hall of the Inn.

Now, the staff are looking forward to opening up.

Dereham Times: The Ostrich Inn on Fakenham Road in South Creake. Picture: Danielle BoodenThe Ostrich Inn on Fakenham Road in South Creake. Picture: Danielle Booden (Image: Archant 2021)

“Everyone is very excited, everyone's ready to open,” Ms Haughey said.

“What we do best is making people feel good, and nothing is more fulfilling than somebody leaving here saying they can't wait to return.

“That's really what we all want.”