The new owners of a historic Suffolk pub recently sold by celebrity chef Marco Pierre White have vowed to turn it back into a traditional village hostelry.

The Angel Hotel in Lavenham will reopen today under the ownership of local firm, Cozy Pubs, which already runs three successful pubs in Essex, has an annual turnover of £3million and employs 100 people.

The company has already repainted the 15th century market square pub in its original off-white colour and has reinstated a ‘drinking’ area inside the building.

Mr White, who has appeared on the TV show Hell’s Kitchen and was one of the youngest chefs to earn three Michelin stars at the age of 33, put locals offside after he stopped selling several popular draught drinks including lager and cider, claiming it attracted the “wrong kind of clientele”.

He also came in for criticism after painting the medieval building in a sugary pink.

Leanne Langman, director at Cozy Pubs, said local people were “very positive” about the proposed changes in the run up to the opening.

She said: “We are going to change The Angel back to a drinkers’ pub on one side but we will keep a dining area in the other half serving pub classics such as fish and chips, and we will also have some different seasonal dishes on the menu.

“We’re looking to invest £100,000 on a complete refurbishment of the pub to get the hotel bedrooms to the high standard we want, and bring the pub back to the village.”

The Angel will be open from 10am for coffee, which will be served with free toast and jam.

The former Angel pub sign, which had been kept by previous owner Roy Whitworth, will also be reinstated outside the building.

Ms Langman added: “From listening to what local people have said, we are confident we can make the pub a roaring success.”