The Countess’s Arms – Weston Heath.

This burnt out relic on the A41 near Newport was once a lively and successful business. Formerly a pub known as The Plough, it was bought in 1999 by The Earl of Bradford, and converted into a very chic restaurant and bar. I remember visiting it many times and enjoying great food in a convivial atmosphere.

The business faltered after several changes of staff, and closed in 2009.  There were rumours that the building was being converted and reopened as a hotel, but these plans never seemed to come to pass, and the site was boarded up and slowly deteriorated. Then in August 2019, a fire (thought to be arson) ravaged the building, leaving just the shell intact, and so it remains.

I travel that road quite often and wonder whether it will ever open again, or just stay as a sad testament to change?

A mono image, taken on the Fujifilm X100V, on a rather overcast day.