GOOD hearty food with Italian influences is at the heart of the philosophy for staff at The Methuen Arms in Corsham, who are rolling in success since its refurbishment five years ago.

Owners Martin and Debbie Still bought the derelict Corsham pub in 2011 after crafting their inn keeping skills at The Pear Tree in Whitley and transformed it into the award- winning establishment that boasts accolades such as The Publicans National Turnaround Pub in the Year and more recently the Good Pub Guide's Best Dining Pub in Wiltshire 2016.

"When they took over, it was like a derelict building and Corsham had lost its focus and its centrepoint for the community, so the refurbishment was absolutely essential," said Chloe Swift, marketing and reception manager. "And within a year of opening they were awarded 5 AAs for their 14 bedrooms and two AA rosettes for the restaurant."

The Methuen Arms' head chef Piero Boi, who has worked at restaurant since the very beginning, has built a team dedicated to creating a menu that represents the area using a nose- to-tail philosophy that incorporates locally sourced food and free range animals.

Miss Swift said: "It is definitely all about the food. We are a foodie destination and people will travel from across the country to dine here and that is what we try to do to put ourselves on the map.

"Everything is locally sourced as much as possible and it that is part of our philosophy with food. We have a butchers on site here and the food is usually hunted by the owner’s son. We always use every single part of the animal across our menu so we make sure nothing goes to waste and the animals are all free range and grass fed so they have the best life possible."

Youngsters, keen to get a kick-start in the hospitality industry, have also benefitted from the wealth of experience the team at the inn bring and Mr and Mrs Still are now working with Bath College to find two new apprenticeships, after their first apprentice, Caleb Drake, won best apprentice student at the Bath Good Food Awards.

Looking ahead to their future, the team at the Methuen Arms have already secured their 5-AA rating but hope to refurbish the inn bit by bit, starting in the autumn, to include six new rooms that will be dog friendly, a new bar area and a restaurant that will be exclusively a la carte and to the high standards Mr and Mrs Still embrace.