A Biddulph pub has temporarily closed while it undergoes a £300,000 rennovation.

The investment in The Roaring Meg on Pennine Way, which will reopen in late May, is being carried out by Heineken-owned Star Pubs and aims to turn the pub into a "top-quality family-friendly local".

The changes will see Hollie Jeffery – who grew up in Leek and whose grandparents ran pubs around Stoke-on-Trent – take the reins as the operator running The Roaring Meg on behalf of Star Pubs.

Hollie, who has worked in pubs in the Leek area since leaving school, said: "I used to visit my grandparents in their pubs as a child and have wanted to run one for as long as I can remember.

"The Roaring Meg is just what I've been looking for - a family-oriented community pub in a friendly town that I know. It's in need of TLC now but it will look fantastic once the works are completed. There's lots of excitement about the refurbishment.

"I can't wait to open the doors and show people their new look local. We'll be marking the occasion with a Returners' Quiz by Ecke and a DJ and party."

The external works will include repainting and installing new cladding, signage and lighting, while the 100-seater garden will have a new furniture, parasols and festoon lighting.

The Roaring Meg has received a £300,000 investment from Star Pubs (image via Lucy Hall)

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A "smart, contemporary décor" will transform the inside of The Roaring Meg, which will see new flooring, soft furnishings and furniture as well as the reupholstery of the fixed seating.

The Roaring Meg, named after a cannon used by Parliamentarians besieging Royalists in nearby Biddulph Old Hall in 1644, will be decorated with pictures of Biddulph, along with ornaments reflecting the origins of its name.

Star Pubs' business development manager, Paul Alldis, said: "We're delighted to be investing in The Roaring Meg and giving it a new lease of life.

"As the only pub in the immediate vicinity, it's an important gathering place. We want to create a great local for residents on their doorsteps; from good pub food to sports and events, there'll be lots of reasons to visit and something for everyone.

"We're working flat out to reopen in time for the second May bank holiday weekend."

The upgraded pub will feature a lounge/dining area, a spacious bar with a new pool table, a darts zone kitted out with two halo-lit darts boards with electronic scoring, and a high spec surround-sound AV system with six screens will show Sky and TNT Sports.

Other improvements include adding a new dispense system, a coffee machine and refitting the kitchen to bring back food including burgers, pizza and curries as well as pub classics like fish & chips and Sunday roasts.

The Roaring Meg also hopes to host events including coffee mornings, bingo and boardgame sessions, DJs, karaoke and live entertainment. The 25-year-old Ecke's Quiz night will also continue on Thursdays.

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The pub also hopes to cater to the community by providing space for local groups to hold meetings, holding fundraisers, special holiday events, pool and darts teams and screenings of all the major tournaments.