A 16TH CENTURY country hostelry is being restored to its former glory following its sale to a rapidly-expanding restaurant and pub group.

Evertons of Ombersley, through its Evertons Warehouses Ltd subsidiary, has acquired the historic Hadley Bowling Green inn, at Hadley Heath, near Droitwich.

The 16th century inn has been run by Mrs Stevie Fox and her son for the past eight years.

The acquisition comes only weeks after Evertons bought Browns Restaurant, in Worcester, to add to its growing hotel, restaurant and pub portfolio.

Managing director Richard Everton said they were thrilled to have bought the Hadley Bowling Green.

"We are delighted to have acquired the freehold of such an historic building and we are working very hard to restore it sympathetically to its former glory," he said.

"We hope to enlarge the current staff, of seven full-time and seven part-time employees, creating six new full-time jobs and ten part-time jobs."

The Hadley Bowling Green first appears in the records of Worcestershire in 1560 when it was the residence of Edwin Sands, Bishop of Worcester, and it is mentioned as a country inn in 1595 documents.

As well as the bowling green that gives the inn its name, the facilities include 14 bedrooms, two restaurants seating 64 and 24 people, a private dining room for 20 people and two bars.

To the rear of the inn there is a clay pigeon shoot, run by Tim Smith, owner of gun shop F Durrant & Son, in Worcester.

The Everton family also owns the Crown & Sandys Arms Hotel, in Ombersley, near Worcester, which it bought four years ago. A major extension and refurbishment has just been completed, creating an orangery with dining space for a further 74 covers, and six new bedrooms.

Mr Everton said they were currently in negotiation for a further two landmark country pub/restaurants in Worcestershire.

The purchase of the Hadley Bowling Green was handled by Worcestershire law firm Morton Fisher, led by commercial property partner, Mike Noble, and supported by partner Patricia Mackenzie, head of corporate law, and Anna Colley. Partner Norman Robertson Smith dealt with licensing matters.