ONLY a brave heart takes on a pub these days apparently, with hundreds closing a year, and yet, according to the Campaign for Real Ale it’s the dream of many to do just that.

So for the new landlord at the Castle Arms Inn, in Snape, near Bedale , it is a major leap of faith, he has no background in the trade, just real enthusiasm and drive, although as his name is Ian Heaven, maybe he also has some divine support.

With partner Lisa McDonough they took over the lease for the traditional village inn from Marston’s Pub company in January. The plan is it gives them time to cut their teeth before the busy summer trade, encouraged by the Tour De France Grand Depart, starts piling in “It has been a real baptism by fire,” said Mr Heaven, who in a previous life was Director of Corporate Services for a large Housing Association. “The first breakfast I triggered the alarm and couldn’t turn it off for ten minutes, we ran out of oil and I couldn’t get the till to work. It has been a really steep learning curve, you just do not realise what hard work it is running a pub, but we’re loving it,” he added.

The Castle Arms Inn, it is presumed, takes its name from the village’s famous Castle, the home of Catherine Parr, a major historic celebrity who was the sixth wife of Henry V111, and most importantly the one that survived.

The Inn is the only one left of the village’s original three pubs, and started life as a farm and buildings in the early 18th Century, although legend has it some bits are from the 14th Century.

It’s been much adapted over the years but is a Grade II listed building, with homely entrance bar, enormous oak fireplace and stone flags, a snug and restaurant.

There’s also nine en suite bedrooms in converted barn buildings in a courtyard at the back of the pub and a small caravan site in fields to the rear. The couple are planning to refurbish.

“It had always been a dream to run a country hotel, I took redundancy, last year and I didn’t know whether to go with my head and get another job or go with my heart and go for the pub, and you can see what won. People have been really welcoming since we came, we really want to be at the heart of the community and the village, and also to attract people from outside.

“Snape is not on a major road, which is fabulous in many ways, but it means we have to do some marketing to get people here, “ added Mr Heaven.

The pub offers food seven days a week, although not Sunday evenings in the winter.

The couple, both 47, say they’re concentrating on offering a warm friendly pub with good food at reasonable prices and welcoming accommodation. As much as possible is sourced locally, on the doorstep even, with fruit, vegetables and fish suppliers Carricks just a few doors away.