A busy pub has reopened after being transformed inside and out by a major £500,000 revamp.
The entire interior of the Blunsdon Arms at Blunsdon St Andrew has been gutted and reworked, with new flooring, walkway, furniture, lighting, kitchen facilities, walk-in fridge freezer, toilets, doors, wall decorations, fireplaces, seating, and back bar area.
The front bar remained in place and has been freshly, polished and sanded down.
One of the fixed booths near the patio exit has been knocked down to make way for more bar tables and seating in a new area which leads to a glass conservatory looking out on a new orangery.
Outdoor seating huts have been moved and spruced up.
The aim has been to make the pub feel lighter, more spacious, sociable, modern and warm.
This refurbishment of the Ember Inns pub should have been carried out in 2020 but the pandemic threw a spanner in the works and it took a big effort to rearrange the suppliers, builders and investment required.
For managers Steven Williams and Paige Chance, the pub's new look has been well worth the wait.
Paige said: "It's been a long and stressful process but I'm relieved it's finished. The pub was looking really run down, the wear and tear was taking its toll, this revamp was much-needed.
"This is a very busy pub and takes a lot of money, so the company wanted to make it a flagship site with the brand's first orangery.
"It's good to have a bookable space that doesn't take away seating from the rest of the pub, and it will be really beneficial for parties and Christmastime.
"We live upstairs so it was nice to see it all gradually coming together and we feel lucky to have had so much investment.
"We've had a lot of positive feedback and comments, the customers love it and say they can't wait to visit and see what it looks like.
"Our team is really proud of what the pub is now, and as a manager, it's nice to see how close-knit they are."
Work started on May 16 and the pub closed for more than three weeks on June 6 before reopening on Tuesday afternoon.
The menu changed a few weeks before the big makeover - and an outdoor bar will soon be added to put the final finishing touch on the pub's new look.
The pub is in Lady Lane, Blunsdon St Andrew, SN25 2NA
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