Historic Cotswolds pub temporarily closes for roof repair

The Mason’s Arms in Clanfield, formerly known as The Clanfield Tavern, was opened just over the road from renowned spot The Double Red Duke in the Cotswolds on October 2 last year.

Described as a true ‘mix of the old and the new’, the new owners, boutique hospitality group Country Creatures, spent months ‘bringing it back to its former glory’ before opening to continue its long history as a coaching inn.

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Now, the pub has announced it is temporarily closed to allow the roof to be fixed ahead of rooms becoming available for guests later in the year.

A notice on its website said: “We’re fixing the roof at The Mason’s Arms in preparation for the bedrooms, which will be ready later on this year.

“We are sorry to say this means we are having to close for a few weeks and will be open again in early June.”

The Mason’s Arms pub in Clanfield (Image: Philip Jeffrey / Wikimedia Commons)

Plans to repair and slightly alter the layout of the grade II listed building, parts of which date back as far as 1610, were submitted to West Oxfordshire District Council this month.

It proposes repairing the rafters, repositioning the approved positioning of the first floor fire exit, and adding a window to the west gable.

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The application said: “The repair of the roof at The Mason Arms are essential to ensure the continued preservation of this Grade II listed building.

“The works will safeguard the building’s structural integrity, improve its thermal performance, and address the deterioration of the roof, without compromising the building’s historic character.

“The proposed interventions are sympathetic to the building’s heritage, with a focus on retaining and repairing original materials where possible.”