AMBITIOUS plans to showcase North Yorkshire produce are being put in place in a popular community pub.

The George and Dragon, Hudswell, which was saved from closure in 2010 through a community funded co-operative has this week welcomed Stuart Miller as new landlord.

They will be assisted by Mr Miller’s brother Sam, who is currently sous chef at renowned Copenhagen restaurant, Noma, and his father Keith, a chef with 45 years’ experience.

The community focused pub with the picturesque Yorkshire Dales setting proved too tempting an opportunity for Mr Miller to resist.

He said: “We have spent over a year looking for a pub to take over.

“The big pull for us here is the amazing community spirit.

“Within two minutes of entering the pub for the first time, I was talking to five different people at the bar.”

Mr Miller, who has left behind his IT consultancy job in London, views quality North Yorkshire produce as being at the heart of his vision for the pub’s future.

He said: “We shall be offering a good and constantly changing selection of North Yorkshire beers, simple and affordable food put together well and sourced from within 40 miles.”

Beer and cider festivals will be added to the pub’s calendar alongside plans to revive the quoits team, house chickens and bees and further utilise the pub allotments.

Mr Miller replaces popular mother and daughter team Margaret and Jackie Stubbs, who have run the pub since 2010 but have stepped down due to Ms Stubbs’ ill health.

Well-wishers from the village and beyond turned out on Saturday (July 26) to give Mrs and Ms Stubbs a fond farewell and to offer thanks for their part in the re-establishment and success of the pub.

Ms Stubbs said: “The party was absolutely blinding.

“We have proved what a pub can mean to a local community and we hope succeeding in making it the friendliest pub in North Yorkshire.”