INTERNATIONAL entrepreneur and former Haslemere resident Peter de Savary has just added The Merry Harriers pub, in Hambledon, to his extensive portfolio.

A self-made multi-millionaire, who grew up in Headley Down and went to Charterhouse, he returned to his roots just over a year ago by buying a farmhouse in Chiddingfold – and has now snapped up his ‘local’.

Not many village pubs can boast a proprietor, who owns 35 high-profile hotels, resorts, championship golf courses and marinas, who was the driving force behind 13 shipyards and for good measure was one of the most successful America’s Cup challengers for Great Britain in 1983.

Merry Harriers regulars are rejoicing in Peter’s pledge to restore the village’s only pub to its former glory and give the historic hostelry, which dates back 400 years, a new lease of life without diminishing its character.

“We will keep the llamas and continue the treks and picnics,” he told The Herald.

“It’s quite a unique part of the history of the place.

“I’ve owned pubs and inns before and been very successful.

“I have a wonderful team of people and we buy what we consider to be businesses that are sometimes eccentric, that have character and are in attractive locations, but which have lost their way.

“I am always very mindful of their environment, history, traditions and what local people want and expect. The pub had had no maintenance at all for some time.

“It has now been renovated, the kitchen has new equipment, and the outside seating area at the front has been increased and the hedge cut back, so customers can enjoy the view over the fields.

“Missing tiles have been replaced and the entire roof will eventually be restored.

“The idea is it should not be posh, but a classic English pub, a comfortable place where you can get a drink and a good meal and if you want to stay the night, it has three bedrooms in the old stable block and four bedrooms that are being upgraded upstairs.

“This is the heart of the village. What’s lovely about Hambledon is it has a village shop run by the community and the pub will continue to make a positive contribution to village life.

“I live a mile-and-a-half up the road, so we are locals.

“I feel I know the area pretty well and we are country people.

“As a boy, I lived in Headley and Haslemere is a lovely town. I’ve ridden all my life and learned how to do it at Liphook Riding Stables.”

Among the landmarks Mr de Savary has owned are Land’s End and John O’Groats and Skibo Castle where Madonna married Guy Ritchie, in 2001.