Popular community pub, The Princess Royal in Stoke-on-Trent, is to close at the end of service on 20 October for a £123,000 revamp starting on 21 October. 

The investment by new licensees, Midlands-based The Banx Pub Group, and Heineken-owned Star Pubs is designed to broaden the pub's appeal and create the best drinks pub in the area. The family and dog friendly local will reopen mid-November.

A top to toe redecoration and new lighting throughout will bring The Princess Royal into the 21^st century. All areas of the pub will be touched by the investment with seating inside increased from 65 to 72.

The lounge will have a new fire, bench-style seating as well as new curtains, carpet and feature wallpaper. 

The snug furniture will be refurbished, and new carpet and curtains added.

The sports area will benefit from a new darts board and pool table as well as new high seating and a drinks shelf. The existing freestanding furniture is being restored reupholstered in brown leather and tartan and new blinds fitted.

The Bar will have a smarter, warmer look and feel with deep red walls, new flooring around the bar as well as stripped and polished timber flooring and new bric-a-brac. Deep button fixed seats will be recovered in a brown leather and freestanding furniture reupholstered in tartan.

The pub will close on 20 October and reopen in mid-November (Star Pubs).

Male and female toilets will also be upgraded as part of the investment.

The outside of the pub is to be given a facelift, redecorated in grey and teal blue with new lighting and signage, more in keeping with the upgraded interior.

Pub manager, Claire Walker, said: "The Princess Royal is a focal point of the community, raising lots of money for local charities and hosting many social events, from live music to quizzes and fundraisers. It's a salt of the earth type of place where everyone looks after each other. The pub does need attention which is why we are all very excited by the refurbishment and are looking forward to the pub's future. It is a great early Christmas present for the community.

"We reopen on Remembrance Day and will have a trumpeter at the pub at 11am, just before we open, to mark the occasion. We have a calendar of activities lined up for when we reopen including karaoke discos, charity events and a raft of Christmas and New Year activities. The pool team will be returning, and we will be looking for darts players, so please get in contact if you're interested."

Star Pubs area manager, Andrew Myatt, said: "The Princess Royal is a very popular local. Claire has done a great job making it the beating heart of the community with events like knit and natter coffee mornings and pool leagues. Even dogs are given the royal treatment at The Princess Royal with their own Woofchester menu. We're delighted to be co-investing with Banx Pub Group in The Princess Royal to improve the surroundings for the residents to socialise in."

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