THE award-winning Blackdown Hills public house the Candlelight Inn is to be reopened before Christmas by award-winning publicans who run another pub less than four miles away.

It will be a ‘full circle moment’ for Maddie Beaumont and Ben Porter, who met while they were both working in the Candlelight, in Bishopswood, in 2016.

The couple went on to take over the Cotley Inn, in Wambrook, on the other side of the A303 in 2018 and have since won a string of awards, including Visit England’s best pub in 2022.

Now, through their company Redefined Hospitality Ltd, they are planning a soft opening of the Candlelight from December 1 with what they describe as a paired-back menu, bar snacks, and Friday to Sunday opening hours, before an official reopening on January 14.

The couple said: “We are delighted that the Candlelight Inn is officially coming back to life.

“Returning now as its new custodians feels like the perfect full circle moment.

“We cannot wait to welcome you through the doors once again.

“After a short closure, we are opening a fresh new chapter, rooted in everything you have always loved about this special place.

“We will be open for a series of pop-up dates through December before fully opening in January.

“Guests can expect the familiar hallmarks of the Cotley, warm hospitality, community focus, and a deep respect for local produce, while the Candlelight will develop its own identity.

“The new venue will champion the creativity and style of its head chef, ensuring that while the brand’s DNA remains consistent, each experience feels fresh and distinct.”

They hoped their shared passion for local produce, warm hospitality, and community spirit would ‘once again light up this much-loved country pub’.

Bishopswood residents were shocked last May to find the Candlelight suddenly closed just nine months after Army veterans Gareth and Miranda George took over from Mike and Simon Rose‑Macleod, who owned it for eight years during which they won Taste of the West Gold awards in five consecutive years and were listed by The Guardian newspaper as a top 10 Somerset pub.

Ms Beaumont and Mr Porter paid tribute to the Rose‑Macleods for their ‘huge success during their time at the helm’.

They said: “Their hard work and dedication have paved the way for this exciting new chapter.

“Redefined Hospitality is proud to build upon the strong foundations they created.”

Dozens of former Candlelight customers took to social media to express their delight and thank Ms Beaumont and Mr Porter for taking over, including Fiona and David Partington, who live in America but own a house in Bishopswood.

Mrs Partington said: “We first heard of the Cotley Inn when sat in our living room in Chicago, reading an article in a British newspaper, and immediately booked a table for when we visited that summer.

“We had not long bought our house in Bishopswood, situated behind the Candlelight.

“Dave and I cannot wait to be able to say hello and eat some delicious food and drink some wonderful booze.”