It's the family-run historic pub that once housed the village fire station and remains at the heart of the community.

The Coach and Horses at Sutton Scotney has teamed up with the local church to house a pantry for those in need and staff are gearing up for their popular upcoming Santa breakfast events. 

The pub, which has just been named in The Good Beer Guide 2025, boasts a rich history, a traditional menu of pub classics, and some superb real ales. 

(Image: The Coach and Horses, Sutton Scotney) Locals were instrumental in helping David Dobson and Brenda White when they took over the rundown pub in April 2022 and remain vital now The Coach and Horses is back to its best.

Landlord David said: "So many of our locals joined together to help keep the pub open when we stepped in to take it over, and we'd spent a hard but rewarding week cleaning and decorating. Our opening day was incredible, at one point the queue to get in snaked around the car park. We are so grateful for the support we received and continue to receive from the local community!

"Getting to be a part of the local community is definitely a bonus; as well as this, we get plenty of travellers from afar, staying in the accommodation, parking their campervan in the car park, or just popping in whilst on their travels. It's so enriching getting to know their stories, a bit about where they're from, and share a bit of our local village with them too."

(Image: The Coach and Horses, Sutton Scotney) The pub started life in the 1700s as an old coachhouse. In 1939, the barn, which had previously housed coaching horses, was re-purposed into the Sutton Scotney village fire station. It remained until the mid-1970s when the current station was built next door.

The thatched fire station - the only one of its kind in the country - has been transformed into three guest rooms. In a nod to the past, they are named after fire engines Dennis, Commer and Bedford.

(Image: The Coach and Horses, Sutton Scotney) The pub features in books showing the history of the Dever Valley, which are sold in aid of the church.

There's a kids' play area in the excellent beer garden, an open fire, regular live music, a bouncy castle in the summer and a monthly quiz night.

(Image: The Coach and Horses, Sutton Scotney)