REGULARS at a country inn will be able to sit on their favourite bar stool forever after snapping up memorabilia from the pub.

Fittings, chairs and even the unique semi-circular bar at the Sparrow Hawk Inn, Fence, have been bought by customers as the popular pub prepares to call "time" and close for three months for a massive refurbishment.

Money raised by calling "last orders" on the equipment will go to a Cheshire charity, Adventure Farms, which provides holidays for under-privileged and terminally ill youngsters.

Landlord Adrian Frid would not say how much the bar went for. "We're looking to raise a total of around £4,000 through the sale," he said.

"Some of the furniture and the bric-a-brac from the pub won't be needed after the refurbishment and the customers wanted to take a memento so they asked if they could buy the stuff."

Price tags went on everything no longer needed and regulars stumped up the cash.

"So many customers wanted mementos it was unbelievable," added Adrian. "Now they have something to remember the pub as it is now."

Not that they will be crying into their beer after the refurbishment is complete, Adrian promised.

"We're aiming to create a traditional English country pub, with log fires and flagged floors," he said. "It won't be a typical brewery conversion. We're aiming to create an individual project that will please the regulars and bring in new customers."

The Sparrow Hawk closes on Saturday and will re-open in the summer. The refurbishment is set to cost around £500,000.

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