THE Coal Orchard pub in Taunton town centre is set to open its doors again this evening (Friday, July 12) as a “family-run” venue.

The pub will be run by the Standen family and one of the owners, Shaun Standen, said the pub will open at 6pm today.

(Image: Newsquest)

He also said: “We want to have a traditional pub which caters for all ages.

“We will do our best to keep our prices as low as Wetherspoons.

“Food-wise, we are not going to open for a couple of weeks because we have work to do in the kitchen.

“In the future we will have live music regularly, pool tables, darts, table football, and a jukebox.

“We are not 100 per cent ready, we are at 90 per cent.

“We want to be an independent, family-run pub and keep it that way.”

The pub was closed for a period from October 2022 after Wetherspoon sold the four-storey premises.

It briefly re-opened in January 2023.