An historic railway hotel and pub that recently hosted famed singer-songwriter George Ezra is planning to go full steam ahead on growing its business.

Overlooking the original Midland line from Gloucester to Bristol, the Beacon Inn is set to branch out with five new letting rooms for holidaymakers.

Built as the Beacon and Railway Hotel in 1854 as a rest and retreat destination for passengers alighting at Haresfield from trains to and from Swindon and Gloucester, the hotel is close to the M5 and sits alongside the Cotswold Way.

The handsome red brick establishment, near Stonehouse, lost its railway connnection 111 years later amid the infamous Beeching cuts, but has since survived by adapting to serve walkers and tourist from further afield while becoming a treasured venue for the local community.

After a year of negotiation, landlord and owner Stephen Luckett told Punchline-Gloucester.com that he was delighted to now have the go-ahead from Stroud District Council for a building adjacent to the main hotel which will contain five accommodation units for extra guests.

Stephen said: "It means that we will be able to increase our current provision of eight rooms to 13 in total - the project is likely to cost around £100,000, but we will be able to work from the footings of an historic building that stood in the same place and, once the funding is clear, we will be keen to get the work done."

He added: "We are confident that the expansion will create work opportunities for local people. We employ 18 now, and it seems every family who lives in Haresfield has a member who has worked here at some time."

Stephen said that with four skittle teams and a busy social activity, the Inn had maintained a close and vital rapport with the community and has recently been made an Asset of Community Value.

But passing trade is also crucial, with M5 users and walkers making up a vital element for room bookings.

"We had a guest recently whose name I should have recognised. It wasn't until his taxi driver came back later, after he'd left, that he pointed out that George Ezra had been staying here! He was walking the Cotswold Way at the time!"