BUSINESS is encouraging at a village pub that four drinking pals clubbed together to save, according to one of the four regulars that took it over.

The Buck Inn, at Maunby, near Northallerton, was taken over in April, when four entrepreneurs raised the £250,000 needed to buy it.

Mark Stokes, who bought the pub with his brother, Paul, as well as friends Gary Hudson and Jon Buckley, said: "It has been very encouraging.

"Since we have taken it over, we have had a lot of support from residents who have heard through the grapevine about what we’re doing.

"It has been a very positive start."

The Buck Inn is attracting positive reviews for its locally-sourced dishes, including meat from the Yorkshire Dales Meat Company, based at Patrick Brompton, near Bedale, and organic vegetables from the Newby Wiske-based Riverford fruit and veg box scheme.

Mr Stokes said: "It is a traditional menu with all the best local ingredients.

For more information and bookings, call 01845-587777, or visit thebuckinn.co.uk