A much-loved village pub is set to reopen its doors after plans to turn it into a gastropub were thrown out amid concerns over parking.

New pub firm The Old Spot Pub Company has taken over The Kings Head, in Little Marlow, which was previously going to be expanded and turned into a gastropub by celebrity chef Raymond Blanc.

But the plans by his company, The White Brasserie Co, were thrown out by Wycombe District Council following fierce opposition from residents and Little Marlow Parish Council.

The company then appealed the decision, finally pulling out of the deal quietly earlier this year.

Now, the pub will be restored to its former glory, after workers were spotted on the site of the Grade-II listed building.

Dave Ford, a director at The Old Spot Pub Company, told the Marlow Free Press the restoration would be “sympathetic” to the pub’s heritage.

He said: “It is an absolutely fantastic pub in an absolutely fantastic place.

“In the 18 months it has been closed it has become extremely deteriorated and what we are trying to do is restore it to its former glory.

“We want it to be a food-led village destination pub, for residents and those coming from further afield.”

The firm is planning to officially open the pub the week of June 25, with a soft opening expected the week before.

Mr Ford added: “It has been challenging because the building has been empty for 18 months and it is in a much worse shape inside than it looks on the outside.

“It will be great to get it up and running. The restoration will be sympathetic to the pub’s heritage – it will be new and shiny on the inside but it will look like it did 10 years ago.”

Little Marlow Parish Council chairman Valerie Brownridge said residents would be “delighted” if it was going to reopen as a pub.

She said: “I think people will be really happy if it is just going to be another pub, as it was beginning to look like an eyesore.

“Everyone will be absolutely delighted that something is being done with it.”