A HISTORIC pub which has been closed for two years is set to reopen as a lively town bar.

The Waggon and Horses was once a thriving establishment on Royal Wootton Bassett's High Street but has been left empty since quietly closing to the public last year.

The Grade II listed public house dates back to the 17th century and has been up for sale since 2023.

But now a new family in town have announced they hope to reopen the former pub as a town bar, with a new name but the same local feel.

Couple Paul and Sarah, their son Charlie and 'Nanny Cobb' say they hope to reopen the Waggon and Horses site as Cobbstar Bar, and have already been getting stuck in meeting the locals and owners of Bassett's other pubs and bars.

Having previously run a bar in Guildford, the Cobb family are brand new to Royal Wootton Bassett, but they hope to complete on The Waggon and Horses pub on July 17.

"We will be working hand in hand with Licensing and the planning permission team of Wiltshire Council that have been very helpful already to make the classic historic venue an amazing new bar in town," said the Cobb family.

"It’s going to be the biggest project we have ever taken on. We will do our best to save the old place.

"See you all on July 17 when we all start our new life in the Royal Wootton Bassett community."

The Waggon and Horses pub has previously been listed as 'for sale'.The Waggon and Horses pub has previously been listed as 'for sale'. (Image: Newsquest) The announcement of a potential new bar on the town's High Street comes just one month after Chippenham couple Will Groves and Abi Mussell reopened The Crown Inn further down the same street.

The Crown Inn is another of Bassett's historic pubs and it sits in a Grade-II building that was originally an 18th-century coaching inn.

A previous listing on findmypub has described the Waggon and Horses as "an ideal pub for a passionate starter couple, located in the delightful market town of Royal Wootton Bassett."

"This cosy pub is well-regarded as a go-to venue for games and sports and maintains the traditional values of a friendly local pub with a local customer base."