A BUYER has been found for a well-known pub situated by the A19, after it closed unexpectedly in March last year.

The historic Haynes Arms, at Kirby Sigston near Northallerton, had remained without a buyer after closing more than a year ago. At the beginning of this year it failed to sell at auction with a guide price of around £200,000 for the freehold.

The future of the stone-built house looked uncertain, but now a buyer has come forward.

The Haynes Arms took its name from an 18th century family of rum traders, who bought the building in 1838 and had traded continuously until March 2017.

In 2012 it was taken over by Teesside businessman Peter McCoy, the former owner of the Cleveland Tontine and the Golden Lion in Osmotherley, until the closure of the Haynes Arms in 2017.

Now it finally has a buyer, entrepreneurs Paul Bell and his sister Denise, from North Shields, who will keep the building as a pub-restaurant. The siblings have revamped several North-East pubs including the Pub and Kitchen, in Cassop, County Durham and The Farmers Arms in Shadforth.

The pub sits in a half acre plot next to the A19, along with parking for about 30 cars, and also comes with a 1.3 acre paddock.

It is believed the new owner intends to reopen the pub by Easter next year.