A WINCHESTER watering hole has reopened after an extensive refurbishment.

The William Walker pub in The Square which is owned by Fullers had six-week’s worth of work for the revamp.

It will now have more craft ales, a new menu and pub goers will see a huge difference in the lighting and general feel of the pub.

The refurbishment cost more than £500,000, and there is now an upstairs dining area, a brass top bar, new lighting and a redesign of the pub. The new refurbishment has also created up to 15 jobs.

The pub was blessed on Monday morning by Bishop of Winchester Tim Dakin, and was officially reopened to punters on Wednesday.

Helping to bring about the refurbishment is current landlord at the Wykeham Arms, which is also owned by Fullers, Jon Howard.

He explained that the pub needed the investment to make it a real dining experience in Winchester.

Mr Howard said: "The William Walker was not in the best of shape it probably did not attract the market that we are looking to attract and it did not have a dining room we have now."

"We felt there was a gap in the market for a ideal drinking environment where you can have a nice cocktail."

New landlord Matthew Price, who used to run the Bell Inn in Redhill in Surrey, which is also owned by Fullers, said he can't wait to hit the ground running.

Mr Price said: "It is a beautiful pub in a perfect location it has a great team and I am excited to get it open and see what we can do with it."

"I think it is a fresh start, it is that clean slate and it is not the same pub it was before and I hope people will give us a chance to see what the pub has created and take away that experience with them."