After six years the fate of a disused pub in the city centre has been revealed by its new owners.

Thurston Estates received planning permission in March 2020 to convert the former Number 12 in Farmers Avenue, which closed in 2018, into a seven-bedroom hotel. 

But work was delayed due to the Covid-19 lockdowns and the three-year time limit to start the project subsequently expired.

Norwich Evening News: Scaffolding was seen outside the disused pub in Farmers AvenueScaffolding was seen outside the disused pub in Farmers Avenue (Image: Newsquest)

The building was then sold for £265,000 at auction on February 7 after going under the hammer with Auction House East Anglia.

Now work has begun on the building and its use has been revealed by new owners - a father and son duo.

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While they didn't want to reveal too much yet, they confirmed that despite the previous hotel planning permission the building will be turned into "a vintage, retro pub".

Norwich Evening News: The new owners - a father and son duo - say the venue will be a vintage, retro pubThe new owners - a father and son duo - say the venue will be a vintage, retro pub (Image: Newsquest)

The pair, who also run a small property development company, added they "have high expectations" for the venue.

The 250-year-old pub was known as the Plough and Horses up until 1830.

It was renamed the Plough until 1973 when it became La Rouen. It closed in 1995 due to safety concerns during building work and reopened in 2000 with the name corrected to Le Rouen.

Norwich Evening News: The Number 12 pub shut down in 2018The Number 12 pub shut down in 2018 (Image: Newsquest)