UP CLOSE: Frome Nub News is supportive of all the local businesses but we especially love the heritage and history of Frome. So we went straight to one of the most famous pubs in the town to find out what they think of the latest coronavirus rules.

Even as the Prime Minister was readying to tell parliament that English pubs, bars and restaurants must close by ten pm from Thursday, this local landmark was vowing to keep its doors open.

The news of closure by 10pm was accepted with quiet resignation by Sue Searle who knows how valuable the pub is a place as a community pub.

The seventy one year old is a strong character, accepting of the coronavirus changes, and adamant that whatever happens, and however hard the business is hit: " We will not close."

Officially it is mum Freda, who is now 98 who is the landlady and contrary to rumours she is still very much alive, still offering advice and it is to her that Sue first turns to for help if she has any questions.

Freda will certainly have the answers, since she has been at the pub for 51 years.

It has certainly been a turbulent time for this amazing Frome venue, but unlike many other pubs in the town, they do not rely on evening trade. They are more likely to be busy in the day, such as when Nub News popped in to see them at midday on September 22.

They had two rooms of regulars, social distancing and tracing in force, sanitisers at the ready.

But in all other respects this pub, probably more famous than any other in Frome, is the same as it has always been.

And that is the point of the Lamb and Foundation - it is a touchstone - where locals go for a drink and a chat, a community hub where while things in the world are changing every minute, they can be secure that inside its walls, things are unchanged . It has three separate bars - a beer garden which has its own bar - and arguably the best view in Frome.

Sue said about the changes just announced: " I can't see us being changed too much by this, but I don't see the logic in it. I would think it affects city pubs perhaps more than us.

"But it is not clear also whether they have a bit of drinking up time, or will they (customers) need to be out by ten. We need to know a bit more.

" It might hit weekend business a bit, but we don't have crowds of people in here. We don't allow crowds in anyway."

The Lamb and Fountain re-opened on July 4 and business has been what Sue calls "steady. " They were helped when the one metre instead of two metres rule was imposed because, even with three rooms, it is a typical small pub.

Sue added : " We have our locals who still come in. Our regulars are just here and then night time trade is not so great anyway, in the week because people got to get up for work the next day, they can't be drinking late.

" Whatever happens we will still be here - we WON'T close."

" I was gutted when we had to close in the lockdown, because this pub well it doesn't close .. unless we are forced to again of course.

" During the lockdown, well a lot of our regulars live on their own so they don't come here for the drink. It is a community pub and they come here for the socialising.

"They come in during the day, have a couple of drinks have a chat with people. There were customers of mine who during lockdown couldn't go out and lived on their own and they had no one and nothing. They didn't see anyone at all.

" I talked to them on the phone and asked them how they were doing and how they were. I didn't want to close for them.. those sort of customers who need us. Never mind the young 'uns. But just for the people who have no where else to go."