THE Rusty Gun will fire its opening broadside on Good Friday to mark the re-opening of a pub housed in a building dating back to the 17th century. The Rusty Gun is the new name for the Royal Oak on the Codicote Road just outside Hitchin, which has undergo

THE Rusty Gun will fire its opening broadside on Good Friday to mark the re-opening of a pub housed in a building dating back to the 17th century.

The Rusty Gun is the new name for the Royal Oak on the Codicote Road just outside Hitchin, which has undergone a �200,000 refurbishment in an attempt to also make it one of the finest restaurants in the area.

The establishment is owned by entrepreneur Chris Gerard, who lives in Whitwell and is head of Innventure Ltd and chairman of Letchworth Town Centre Partnership.

The Rusty Gun, suggested by Chris's son James after he found two ornamental rusty cannon, will serve its own unique cask beer brewed by the Suffok-based Old Cannon Brewery.

There will be a produce shop at the pub and an area will be provided for those arriving by horseback across the bridleways that criss-cross the area.

"I have driven past the Royal Oak for nearly 15 years and I have always wanted it to be special; somewhere different and to be the best pub in Hertfordshire and from Good Friday it will," said Mr Gerard who also runs the Broadway Hotel in Letchworth GC and The Wellington in Welwyn.

"'Refurbishment' suggests we are taking out the old and putting in the new. I am not doing that. I am restoring it to its former glory, exposing old flagstones and original features wherever I can.

"I am sourcing as much local produce as possible for the restaurant and much of what is used in the kitchen will be for sale in the shop.