A POPULAR tea room and restaurant which suddenly shut last year is to reopen after a major revamp.

The former Annie’s Kitchen and Tea Rooms in Kimbridge will reopen in December after a £300,000 investment.

An official opening date has not been set yet but the move is set to create 30 new jobs.

As previously reported, the venue closed in November last year. Staff and customers found out about the closure on Facebook.

At the time, Robert Day, from Robert Day and Company, handled the case and said the company was insolvent and was going to be placed into liquidation.

Now Hampshire company Ideal Collection, which owns pubs, restaurants and cafe across the county, has announced that Kimbridge Barn is the latest addition to its portfolio.

The company said the £300,000 investment aims to create “one of the most unique hospitality venues in Hampshire”.

The new tea room and cafe will be set within the original building and will extend onto the nearby courtyard and new rose garden.

An outdoor fire pit will provide additional comfort to those dining outside.

The refurbished barn with vaulted ceilings and oak beams will accommodate up to 150 guests and host large events such as weddings and corporate functions.

A smaller room called the Boot Room will also be created to host small business meetings.

Matthew Boyle, Ideal Collection’s founder, said: “We’re approaching our 15th year as a business so we’re incredibly excited to be adding Kimbridge Barn to our portfolio. We receive a lot of enquiries from our customers about event spaces so to be able to now accommodate large party sizes to host special occasions, corporate events and now weddings is really special. Not only can our customers enjoy every day dining at our venues but life-changing special occasions.”

The firm said a new menu is being created with the support of the group’s executive chef and winner of the Great British Menu 2014, James Durrant.

Kimbridge Barn will host supper clubs and special themed evenings that are suited to the season.

The company has also announced that a series of events will be run and will include wedding fayres, arts and crafts workshops, book and poetry readings and cinema nights.

Cllr Nick Adams-King, deputy leader at Test Valley Borough Council, welcomed the news and said: “Very many locally were really disappointed to lose Annie’s when it closed last year. This is great news for our area, not only providing jobs for local people but also resurrecting a much loved local venue.”