JAMIE Brown, one of the partners aiming to take over Liskeard's Webbs Hotel, has stressed that the deal is going ahead as planned.

Mr Brown has confirmed, that together with partners Nick Barber, who has now moved to Lostwithiel with his young family, and Keith Stiles of London, that contracts were exchanged on Webbs four months ago and that a substantial deposit has been paid.

'The preferred date for completion is January 15' said Mr Brown, 'and things have only taken this long because our own survey did not agree with the vendor's survey.

Dry rot

'Dry rot which will cost up to £20,000 to put right was discovered, and it has been difficult to find a company available for scaffolding on the exterior. The bad weather has not helped with many companies still involved in the repair aftermath to properties'.

Mr Brown said he had promised the Town Council and the Town Forum that the outside of the hotel, which he plans to turn into a state of the art nightclub, would be decorated before work began on the inside.

'I am keeping to that pledge' he said, 'and providing we are now able to complete on the 15th, I am hoping to have the scaffolding up by the end of January.

'Ideally I would like to open at Easter, but realistically it will be around Whitsun time.'

He said he would be surprised if there were any change left over from £1million after the purchase and refurbishment of Webbs is finally completed.

Already the owner of Lanreath's Punch Bowl Inn, Liskeard's Red Lion, and Gossips night club of Carlyon Bay, including other aquisites, all of which he has successfully renovated and rejuvenated, Mr Brown has just recently purchased The Meadery at St Columb for £1million, which has become his new home.

'The interior of The Meadery is being removed as we speak' said Mr Brown, 'and is to be incorporated into The Punch Bowl Inn, giving the restaurant a new focus, which will be attractive to people all the year round and not just to visitors. It will open at Easter.