WHEN it comes to village pub The Outside Chance near Marlborough it is a sure bet that nothing is ever going to run smoothly.

After months of wrangling former landlord Howard Spooner finally handed the keys of the pub in Manton back to brewery Wadworth and new tenants were appointed. Only for a new row to erupt over the pub’s name.

Mr Spooner says he owns the trademark to the name Outside Chance which he gave the pub after a horse he owned was first past the post in a race no-one thought it had a hope of winning.

He said he had made this clear to Wadworth and so was shocked when he drove by and saw new signage going up but still with the old name.

But now after solicitors were consulted Wadworth has decided to swap the pub’s name back to The Oddfellows and new licensees Mark Gallimore and Jodi Schofield will re-open it on December 17.

Wadworth CEO Chris Welham has declined to comment directly on the name rumpus but operations director for Wadworth, Lloyd Stephens said: “The Manton village pub was formerly known as Oddfellows so we thought with the new look and new licensees in place we would bring the original name back.”

Mr Spooner said: “I have now found out that the name will sensibly be changed back to The Oddfellows Arms, which it was when I took it over 11 years ago. “

New landlords Mark and Jodi will be hoping things go more smoothly once the pub is back open. The pub had been redecorated and new furniture put in place.

The pair are experienced licensees and won a top prizes in Wadworth Best Of The Best awards for its pub The Bull in Theale, Berkshire and also run a pub near Newbury.

Mr Stephens said: “We are so pleased that Mark and Jodi are taking over the pub. They recently won the award for Wadworth’s Best Marketing pub at their pub, the Bull in Theale

Mr Gallimore who has been running pubs for 16 years said: “We are really looking forward to reopening Manton’s village pub and meeting everyone.

“We love running pubs where we can welcome the community and provide great food and service and that’s what we will be doing at Oddfellows”.

They are planning gin, rum and wine tasting events at Oddfellows as well as building a close relationship with the local school PTA and walkers visiting the area.

Wadworth has invested £80,000 at the pub ready for the re-opening at noon on Wednesday with a launch party scheduled for January. Home cooked fresh food will be served every day with roasts on a Sunday.

Mr Gallimore started his career at the Rose and Crown at Larkhall and then moved to the Bull in 2007. Last year he added the Craven Arms at Enbourne, near Newbury.

His partner Jodie joined him in the pub business in May.