A Wiltshire pub, hotel, and restaurant is thriving after being transformed into a “classy” venue by its new owners.

The Duke Hotel in Hilmarton, north of Calne, was reopened by partners Matteo Romeo and Brandon Marais in April this year.

At the time, the venue had been closed for several months but opened its doors to customers again after a major renovation.

Matteo, who is also the chef, told this paper that the couple was determined to create an “up-class” venue with similar vibes to a London cocktail bar.

He said: “We were looking for something a bit more up-class and the place now looks a bit like a London cocktail bar, we invested all the pennies in our pocket into the pub.

“When we took it on, we renovated it so it was like brand new, but we also wanted to respect the history of the beautiful building.

“There’s nothing old apart from the foundations, everything is fresh, and we’ve had such a great response from the local community since reopening.”

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Matteo and Brandon at The DukeMatteo and Brandon at The Duke (Image: The Duke) This positive response has been important to Matteo and Brandon, as the pair have spoken of the importance of creating a relationship with those living in the village.

Matteo added: “We are trying to create a real relationship with the locals and the wider community because we have felt so welcome since we came here.

“They’ve supported us and we’re trying to give back to them as well.

“The people are very happy, and they make us very happy because opening a pub is so difficult so the fact we’re still here with their support six months later is very important.”

The pub and hotel date back to 1843 and used to have a brewery on site.

As well as a gastro pub and restaurant serving a mix of Asian and European food "with a twist", the grounds host caravan pitches and The Duchess Lounge, a cafe and function room.

The Duchess also has a farm shop offering essentials for villagers and visitors.

Matteo is confident the “welcoming” atmosphere he and Brandon have worked to create means the venue will offer something for everyone.

He said: “I always say anyone who walks into the pub has to be food led, and so it has been transformed to look like a lounge rather than a traditional pub.

“Everyone is welcome, and I can promise that people who are looking for something a bit different will find it here.”