The Merchant on Exmouth Strand has new owners and will be renamed to the Queen Vic from May 31.

Owner Amy Matthews and partner James are currently owners of The Chronicle. They have now taken over The Merchant from national chain Stonegate.

The establishment promises to be a family-run pub with great traditional pub food and beer, live music, live sports, Sunday carvery and entertainment with a beer garden at the rear.

Amy is a well-known publican in East Devon, owning a couple of pubs before, one being The Swan in Lympstone for 10 years, and then The Heavitree in Exmouth until 2021 and The Chronicle restaurant. 

They have now taken over the lease to the pub and will be changing the name to The Queen Vic. They take over the pub on Friday, May 31 with and will then be hosting a launch party on 6th June 6, where doors will open for the first time under new management.