Its landlords, Colin Swindlehurst and partner Tracy Jones, have left after just a fortnight following an extraordinarily stormy spell behind the bar which saw them falling out with punters.

Their brief time at the pub started with a row with farm workers over their muddy boots being worn in the saloon bar and quickly escalated from there.

It was followed by complaints from locals being sworn at by the landlords and then an explosive claim - strongly denied by the couple - that Ms Jones had brandished a shotgun behind the bar.

Colin Swindlehurst and Tracy Jones are at the centre of a village controversy (Image: Colin Swindlehurst/Facebook) And it ended after a representative from Stonegate, the company which owns the pub, was sent to investigate the shotgun allegations and ended up in a blazing row with Mr Swindlehurst.

Shortly afterwards, the couple's contract was terminated, with the company citing "multiple incidents of unacceptable behaviour".

Mr Swindlehurst believes the couple's "northern forwardness" may have contributed to the situation, and that villagers in Ormesby had not appreciated their "banter" and straight-talking.

TROUBLED HISTORY

Like many village pubs the Jolly Farmers has had a troubled recent history, with three sets of landlords in the last 12 months and long spells with its doors shut.

But like in many villages, locals have been desperate to see it survive. A community group known as ‘Save The (Jolly) Farmers, Ormesby’ has been fighting to nominate the pub as an Asset of Community Value and recently succeeded in its bid.

The Jolly Farmers in Ormesby St Margaret (Image: Denise Bradley) When Mr Swindlehurst and Ms Jones, a couple who had previously run a pub in Devon, arrived they had big plans to make things jolly at the Farmers again.

They reopened the pub, which had been shut since New Year's Eve, on March 27, with ideas for karaoke, bingo nights and a revamped menu.

Alas,........

© Eastern Daily Press