CUSTOMERS who had booked at Inn on the Hill were refunded their deposits after the restaurant bar with accommodation opposite Haslemere railway station unexpectedly shut, last week.

The company, Artena 1, which leased the property from Punch Taverns, has gone into liquidation.

But a spokesman told The Herald an independent company not tied to Punch Taverns was due to take over the lease and reopen the pub this week.

The spokesman added: “We would like to make it clear that anyone who paid a deposit directly through us has been refunded and anyone who made a booking through a website will be refunded through the website they booked through.

“We had to close due to power cuts but the pub has been taken over by new owners.

“I am not at liberty to say who the new owners are but they plan to reopen later this week.”