THE historic George Hotel is set to rise again — plans to rebuild the 600-year-old pub have been given the go ahead.

The grade two listed building, which was destroyed by fire just two days before Christmas last year, is set rise from the ashes and be carefully reconstructed to its original period style.

Work on the building, which will start this October, will see the front of the premises carefully moulded, with painted rendered walls and timber windows, closely to match the previous style.

The new building will be thatched using a local reed, with traditional methods. The anticipated cost of the rebuild is around £2.5-million.

The move comes after Scottish and Newcastle Pub Enterprises received approval from West Devon Borough Council to bring the pub back to life.

Scottish and Newcastle Pub Enterprises project and building manager Richard Jackson said maintaining the original character of the pub was vital.

He said: 'We want to create the feeling that the building is old, but has recently been restored.

'It is not intended to be a new soul-less building, and like all good thatched inns, it will have plenty of character and charm.'

The new pub is set to have 13 letting rooms, 12 at first floor level and a further wheelchair-friendly room on the ground floor.

All the rooms will have en suite bathrooms and maintain the traditional style and features of the original pub.

Mr Jackson said he was excited the redevelopment was one step closer.

He added: 'We look forward in anticipation to restoring it to the heart of the community.

'It's been a long seven months since the George burned down and we couldn't have asked for more support than we have received from the people of Hatherleigh.

'We hope they are pleased with the look of their new George Inn.'

The completed building is set to be finished during the summer of 2010 and will offer customers an off the ground floor pub for private dining, functions and meetings.

There will also be a two bedroom flat for the lessee or manager on the first floor.