Work will begin next week on a £200,000 refurbishment of The Barley in Truro following the arrival of new licensee Duncan Irvine.

The Barley, which has been under temporary management for a year, will re-open as The Barley Sheaf in the first week of December, becoming a food oriented pub with letting rooms, and creating approximately 10 new jobs.

The is undergoing a complete internal and external decoration bringing it up to date whilst retaining its Victorian character, with a dining and a casual area, two pub fires and new seating.

The letting rooms will be refreshed and the terrace and beer garden smartened up. The kitchen is also being refurbished to enable the pub to cater for great quality freshly cooked food.

Inspired by the couple’s time in Australia running food pubs in Sydney and New South Wales, The Barley Sheaf will offer English, Asian and Polynesian dishes found in Australia and the Pacific, alongside English classics.

Duncan said: “Kerrie and I are looking forward to moving home to Cornwall and creating food which showcases the best of Cornish cuisine whilst also sharing some of the flavours we’ve enjoyed on the other side of the world. We want the menu to reflect the relaxed atmosphere of Cornwall and bring the best of organic local foods to the table.

“With The Barley Sheaf we are creating a great place to relax with family and friends in the city centre whether shopping or out for a meal. The pub will be children and dog friendly and its size makes it a great place for a party or special occasion.

“The moment we saw The Barley Sheaf we knew it was the pub for us. It was tired but we could see it had hidden potential. It’s a bit like finding an old car in a garage. Given a bit of care and attention the car could polish up to something really special."