John's pub has been a real labour of love

The couple bought The Rock House Inn, in Farley, Much Wenlock in May 1993.

Mr Gittings dedicated his life to completely renovating the building and now, nearly half a million pounds later, it is open for business.

Mr Gittings, 67, said: "When we first had it, we took it on as another business, because my wife had her own business

"It was something else for me to do. We were quite happy plodding along but we knew eventually we had to get it open now we're getting older, and had to finish it."

Much of the work has been done by Mr Gittings, including extending the building and converting the old cellar and barrel drop.

Painting

He said: "There was a lot of work, that's why it took so long. There are still bits that want painting and finishing off.

"I equate 20 years to one year with 20 men doing the work."

Mr Gittings believes £500,000 in total was spent on renovating the property before it finally opened to the public at the end of September.

"The comments we have had, people can't imagine how it was before," he said.

"They look at the front and can't believe how big it is from the back.

"There are people who have been saying they've been waiting for it to open, some people never thought it would be open."

The couple said they never planned for the work to take so long, but as they began getting the pub ready, they found more and more that needed to be done.

"We've had that many problems, it needed rebuilding," said Mr Gittings.

"We didn't think we would ever finish, but we've got it open more for the public and for the people we're employing."

Getting The Rock House Inn ready has been a real family affair, with the Gittings' daughter and grandchildren all helping with the work and taking on major roles now it is open.

Mrs Gittings, 63, said: "Our daughter Andrea, her partner Bryn and our grandchildren Olivia and Lucy have loved it, they've been behind the bar and serving, they've really worked hard.

"Lucy was only two when we first had it, now she's 23."

The couple have lived in a flat at the top of the pub since they first bought The Rock House Inn and say the countryside around it was what really attracted them to first take on the property. Mrs Gittings said: "We enjoyed doing the work, we like living here and we like Shropshire."

"We want to get the restaurant up and running, then it will be a fine wining and dining establishment, with downstairs for the bar. We will be here, but we will be on the back seat.

Our staff are really good. We've got a great new chef, and we think people work better if they work on their own initiative.

"We've got a lot of local youngsters, we've tried to employ local people.

"We're also using local produce and local suppliers."

As well as the main pub building which the Gittings have been working on, the premises still has planning permission to build a micro-brewery and five holiday apartments.

Mrs Gittings added: "That's the next project, but that won't take 20 years."

The Rock House is open from noon to 11pm everyday, but stays open later at the weekends.