Freddie's

Many of us may dream but few of us will act. Dreams of a life in the sun or sailing round the world perhaps.

But for Nick Cooper and Elaine Martin from Bishops Waltham in Hampshire, the dream was to have their very own pub. A dream - or is it a nightmare - that's about to come true.

We find Nick and Elaine with their three-legged dog, having sold their houses, closed down their businesses and getting ready to move into their new home, the Black Horse pub in West Tytherley, a remote village not far from Salisbury.

The Black Horse pub

It's something of a gutsy move when we're told six pubs a day are going out of business, especially as neither of them has any experience running one!

"I'm feelng very trepidatious" says Nick, "but I can't wait to serve people drinks.  Everybody says that I was born to do it. I love food, I love drink, I love fun. So hopefully we'll be alright!"

Joannie, the three-legged dog

And Elaine reassuringly adds, "We're both the kind of people who can laugh at disasters."

It's an ancient pub, the centre of village life serving beer since 1620.  And with that kind of history it's not surprising that the pub comes with two ghosts.  The Grey Lady is thought to haunt the skittle alley and the gents' toilet is where you may meet the Laughing Cavalier.

Plus there's always Joan of Bark, the three-legged dog for company.