A traditional pub has been saved from closure after one family stepped in. 

The Eagle pub in Old Amersham is reopening after Rebecca Hine and her family took on the management of the pub.

Rebecca, her husband and her in-laws will run the historical establishment as a “family consortium” when it reopens at midday on Thursday, November 23.

Rebecca, who lives in Maple Cross, said: “We’re going back into old times when pubs were traditional, a proper community pub is what people seem to want back.

“People have been coming in even before we have opened and they have said they want a simple community pub. A family feel, just somewhere everybody can come to.

“It’s a really nice little pub.”

“We just want the dog walker to the builder, everybody is welcome,” she said.

The heart of Old Amersham is “very much how high streets used to be.”

“It has that old England community feel that so many places have lost,” Rebecca said.

The Eagle boasts a beer garden at the rear with overhanging trees and views of the common and River Misbourne flowing past.

READ MORE: Chesham: The Griffin pub to reopen soon

Being close to the Amersham Football Club, Rebecca was eager to welcome customers for an after game drinks or to watch sport on TV.

With many walkers and dog walkers around, the pub also welcomes four-legged guests.

The owners, Star Bars and Pubs, have not done a refurbishment “as of yet” depending on how it takes off as a community pub, she said.

“We’ve just gone in and given it a lick of paint and a good clean.”

Their goal now was to “get it all ready to open again and hear what the community wants from the pub.”

“We want to know,” she said.

“I feel quite optimistic now. I think it’s the right time. People want to go out more and people feel comfortable going out. People like that community feel. And that’s a big thing. With everything that Covid brought everybody likes to feel part of a community, and that’s what we offer.”

For now, The Eagle will be a wet pub only with some seasonal snacks available before it might serve other light bites in the future depending on “what the community wants from their pub,” Rebecca said.

They are also planning to do regular pub quizzes and launch Fizz Fridays promo for a bottle of Prosecco.

She looked forward to the Old Amersham Christmas Festival on Friday, December 1, when The Eagle will serve mulled wine and mince pies.

“It’s a lovely pub and a really good community. My in-laws are from Watford and we’re local but not Amersham and everyone has been welcoming and friendly,” she added.