Death of all ambition hasn't got to us yet

After 18 months of trying, it appears that we may have succeeded in finding a buyer for the pub.

The decision to place the property on the market was not an easy one. We had decided, on moving to Hunton, that this would be a five-year project, and that at the end of this time we would sell and move on to another challenge.

We had calculated without the good villagers. It was easy to get sucked into this pleasant, quality lifestyle, develop new friendships and lose all ambition.

In fact, on arriving in the village, I was told by one local that Hunton was the "graveyard of all ambition", a fact borne out by the high number of people in the village who have no desire to move out under any circumstances.

We felt differently, largely because we have not been able to enjoy as much of this idyllic life as others have. The six-day working week regime means that our social life is restricted to a Tuesday night.

We have had a number of visits to view the pub, most of which follow roughly the same pattern.

Potential purchasers arrive, usually late because they can't find Hunton on a map, and wander around the pub cooing positively.

Compliments are made about the size of the living accommodation - I often wonder how many landlords manage to live in the minuscule accommodation left to them - and about the decor and layout of the restaurant.

We would normally get a little optimistic by this time, only to be brought down to earth with a bump when the visitors see the size and range of the restaurant menu. It is fair to mention that it would have terrified me six years ago, but it has evolved with me and now holds no fear.

Excuses are quickly made: it's too small, too large, too close to the mother-in-law, and the potential purchaser departs into a Wensleydale fog (the sun never shines for viewings).

On this latest occasion, however, it has been different. They like the village and the building, they need the size of the living accommodation, and they have many good ideas to move the business forward.

More importantly, they are positive about the food offering and see it, as we do, as a benefit to the business.

They have made an acceptable offer, and so we just have to hope all goes well.

Ian Vipond is chef-patron of the New Inn, a free house pub in Hunton on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales

Next diary from Ian Vipond: 9 August