1961: An application for a full drinks licence for the Old Village House Hotel was refused. Those opposed were United Breweries on behalf of Alan Wyatt, landlord of the Gun Inn.

The brewery representative said that the premises are as unsuitable for a licence, the Old House was only a little hotel with 11 or twelve bedrooms, a licence would provide another public house in a little village.

Mr V Jackson, the applicant, said the record of meals served during the year justified a drinks licence. Mrs Constance Parker, the building owner, also emphasised this point.

A local newspaper in a 1990 feature states that the Village House hotel has been an Inn since 1527. Janet Brown, owner, says, "It is still very much an old country Inn." This was just after a refurbishment, which included converting rooms to en-suite facilities, as well as installing new carpets and direct dial telephones in each room.

The newspaper item is very much a promotional piece. The hotel does have ties with the horse racing fraternity, including a display of jockey attire around the bar area when we last visited some years ago. The building gained its full license in 1976.

As of August 2025, we could find no evidence of the Old House Hotel being an Inn or beer house before 1961

1991: Jean & Ernie Brown standing outside there Village House Hotel, having just been awarded the Four Crowns by the English Tourist Board.

The hotel offers eight rooms, weekend breaks, and dogs welcome. They also promote themselves as a popular public house with a range of real ales.

Time Line

A little bit more

1885 - Emma Schroeter - convalescent home
1934 - Paul browning, guest house and tea Room
1962 - Constance Parker
1985 - For sale
1990 - Ernie & Jean Brown

The building does have a past of being a private house as well as a convalescent home and in the 1930s opened as a guest house and tea room.

1984: Became a grade II listed building.