Families in Churchdown finally have their village pub back after it was closed for three months as part of a £300,000 revamp.
The Bat and Ball Inn has been renamed The Old Elm Inn and now features a new-look bar and restaurant, new car park and revamped garden.
Couple Matt Wark and Sarah Porter reopened the Enterprise Inns pub this week and vowed to give a “family-friendly” feel to The Old Elm- which is a nod to the name of the pub in the 1940s.
The Church Road pub was closed in July while the refurbishment took place, leaving Churchdown without a watering hole.
But Matt said he was excited to be finally opening the pubs doors again ahead of its re-launch party tonight (30/10)
He said: “There’s a real buzz about the area and we’re really looking forward to opening. It’s been hard work but it’s all been worth it.
“People have come to us and said they’ll support us. It’s going to be amazing.
“We will bring a lot more people to the area and everyone will benefit.”
Drinkers and families alike will be met with a brighter welcome when they arrive in the new entrance of The Old Elm, which now boasts original wooden flooring and ceiling beams.
The Old Elm has already been swamped with bookings for its new restaurant area, which will fit alongside the new pub area and the lounge.
The pub also has five letting rooms, a new children’s play area and a resurfaced car park to prevent flooding issues.
Regular themed nights at The Old Elm will include quiz and curries on Thursdays, rhythm and blues and steak nights on Wednesdays and fining dining in its weekly Make Saturday Special offers.
Matt, who has moved to Churchdown with Sarah from north London, added: “People are looking forward to the new pub being open. They want their community pub back. Hopefully that’s what we can provide.”