REVELLERS are raising a glass to the opening of Queen Matilda Tavern, formerly The Cross at Avening.

The free house, run by Lynne and Matt Trulocke, who formerly ran a busy restaurant in Dorset, serves Stroud Brewery Ales, local produce and offers the comfort of a log-burning fire.

Lynne’s husband Matt has previously worked as head chef in other pubs and the pair have even dabbled in the club industry in London.

The pub has been named after William the Conqueror’s wife, Matilda, who was the first crowned queen of England and was gifted the village of Avening by her husband.

Landlord Lynne Trulocke said: “She had formerly been in love with a man called Brittic, who had rejected her, so when she became queen she had him thrown into prison where he died.

“Later she felt guilty about this and built the Church of the Holy Cross to compensate.

“We thought it would be nice for her to have a pub named after her in Avening and are very keen to be an important contribution to the village so that is why we have named the pub after its most famous resident.”

“It looks completely different to how it did before but we have worked very hard to keep it nice and traditional.

“Our menu consists of classic pub food cooked ourselves.”