A pub which has changed hands a number of times in the past few years has a new landlord who is passionate about good food and drink.

Tony Hook, the new tenant at the Compasses at Stansfield, near Bury St Edmunds, is confident he can make the rural pub work, and he is brimming with ideas.

He stepped in over the summer to run the Compasses on a short-term basis, and owners Bayments Farm are now giving him the tenancy. Mr Hook, who has previously run pubs in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, has launched a microbrewery at the Compasses, has an apple pressing day planned and is getting involved in farmers’ markets, with other ideas including having a quiz.

Mr Hook said he was “starting off simple” while the pub builds a reputation and business. The focus will be on fresh fish and good quality meat, with produce from the farm being used.

“I have got faith in the place; it’s a lovely pub, lovely setting and lovely customers,” Mr Hook said. “There’s a lot of really good village support for the pub. They really want it to work.”

Rob Dennis, of Bayments Farm, which has owned the pub for about 18 months, said: “There’s a lot of promise and hopefully we can implement all these ideas.”

The Compasses is open Wednesday to Sunday and closed Mondays and Tuesdays.