A "haunted" pub near Radlett is now under new ownership, having been acquired by Peach.
The pub company has purchased The Three Horseshoes, in Letchmore Heath, with the intention that it will remain the "idyllic, country pub and restaurant at the heart of the village".
Peach Pubs has operated Harpenden's The White Horse and Brookmans, in Brookmans Park, since 2011 and runs 21 other pubs that are further afield.
The Three Horseshoes itself has timbers that date back 500 years and is haunted, according to former owner Danny Williams.
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Williams told The Herts Advertiser's sister paper The Watford Observer: "It’s definitely haunted.
“It’s been around for a long time and sometimes you can hear knocking and walking.
“People will think I’m bonkers but I have seen what looks like someone walking around.
“The pub’s old front door is now a window and I thought I saw someone walking through it.
"People are probably going to think I’m just going mad but my first thought was what on earth is this?”
Upon purchasing the pub, Chris Stagg, Peach Pubs' brand operations director, commented: “The Three Horseshoes is an absolutely gorgeous pub that occupies a special place in the village and is enjoyed by guests from across the county, and we are thrilled to say it is now one of ours.
“We are known as being a collection of really great pubs, in market towns and villages in the heart of England with two wonderful pubs already in Hertfordshire, that serve good quality, fresh, honest food and drink in relaxed, friendly surroundings.
"We’ve been doing this successfully for over 22 years, winning a slew of awards for our food and drink, how we look after our people and take care of the environment.
“The Three Horseshoes shares many of the same characteristics we have and is quite simply a natural fit with our ethos and approach.
"Recently extensively and sympathetically restored, it has a warm, inviting atmosphere and friendly faces serving great quality seasonal food and drink in the bar, eatery and garden, and that will continue to be the same under Peach.
“We change our menus with the seasons and cook with quality ingredients with provenance from suppliers more used to supplying Michelin-starred restaurants than village pubs – Aubrey Allen British beef and free-range Jimmy Butler Blythborough pork as well as Cornish lamb, native fish and seafood, with British and seasonal food part of our ethic.
“Our pubs serve the good stuff - top quality, fresh, honest food from classic gastropub favourites, to modern, healthy dishes alongside weekend blow-out specials from our head chefs’ kitchens.
"We are also serious about Sunday roasts, serving at least three choices on our menus every week.
“All of this and much more will be on offer with Peach at the helm, so guests old and new will find a warm welcome and plenty of the good stuff as well as the assurance of having a capable and very experienced pair at The Three Horseshoes."
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