A PUB in Malvern has been re-opened until a full sale can be completed.

The Brewers Arms in West Malvern was closed by owners Admiral Taverns in February, but has been re-opened to keep it secure.

Concerns were raised over what to do with the pub while it was empty at a community meeting last month.

Residents were worried it could be vandalised or broken into if it were left empty.

Faced with the choice of putting security shutters on or opening it back up, Admiral decided the latter was the best option.

Business owner Andrew Bolley said this was the best option, saying: "About two weeks ago Admiral approached me to reach a short hold agreement.

"We want to keep it open until he sale and keep it secure.

"We could either have put metal shutters all over it or kept it open, so it works better for everyone this way."

Mr Bolley also runs the Railway Inn in Malvern, so a number of staff from that pub have made the temporary move across to West Malvern and the Brewers.

The Brewers officially re-opened on March 3 with a steady trade on its first night.

The goal of the team is to keep it running and serve the community until a buyer can be found.

Mr Bolley added: "Jim, Ian and Alison have all come over to work and have done a really good job so far.

"We absolutely want to do as good a job as possible until a deal is agreed."

The Brewers was put up for sale in late 2021 with Admiral saying they had decided to get rid.

This was after a number of tenants tried and failed to make it work as a business.

Since then, a community group has launched a bid to buy the pub from Admiral and run it on a community ownership basis.

It is understood that the re-opening has not affected plans for the community bid, which hopes to raise around £500,000 to buy and renovate the pub.

At a meeting in November, members of the West Malvern community unanimously agreed to launch a bid to buy it.