AN AMERICAN couple who bought a historic former Natwest bank in Whitchurch will be pushing ahead to turn it into a restaurant with hotel accomodation. 

Initially, Docket No33 had planned to move into the former Natwest bank in 16-18 High Street, which was bought by Ron and Kassie Courson, but the Michelin recommended restaurant recently announced it would no longer be making the move.

The building is out for commercial letting and the couple are confident of finding a tenant to run the resturant.

The owners said they hoped to preserve a historic building in the town and were in awe of the woodwork inside.

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Mrs Courson said: "We have walked past this since 1994 in awe of it.

"We always thought about what a beautiful building it is. We got together with the previous owner and he sold it to us." 

Mr Courson added: "We decided wanted to invest in the town.

"We thought wondered who owned this building and wondered why it was empty."

Mr and Mrs Courson come from Macombe in Illinois and moved to Whitchurch in 2020, but regularly visited the town since 1994 and noticed the demand for accomodation.

Mr Courson said: "We would always come over on holiday.

"The only place to stay was in the Anchor, which is now Reubens Bar & BBQ.

"We were introduced to the Wheatsheaf which was closed for a while, but is now back open with accomodation.

"The Doddington Hotel used to be around but now it is closed. We felt we needed some nice accomodation, which is what we want to bring."

Mr and Mrs Courson first came to Whitchurch in the 1990s while working for non-profit organisation Bethphage, which is a specialist provider of support for adults with learning difficulties.

Mr Courson said: "We provided training and helped set up in the UK group homes for people with learning difficulties.

"The first one was hear in Whitchurch 28 years ago."

Since they made the visit, the couple decided to regularly visit the town.

Mr Courson said: "We fell in love with the community and we always came back on holiday.

"Three years ago we purchased a holiday home here.

"We were reintroduced to Bethphage and I applied for a job and it sponsored us.

"We decided to move over here and we did so three years ago."

Since permantley moving ing to Whitchurch, Mr and Mrs Courson have got involved with local groups in the town.

Mrs Courson said: "We are active in the Rotary Club.

"We have got great friends here in the town. We absolutely love it."