Improvement work at a public house in Abingdon is underway as the venue gets ready to open its doors under fresh management.
Building teams have been working at The White Horse located where Spring Road meets Ock Street, with the venue due to reopen at midday on Thursday, May 7.
The venue shut its doors on April 4 to enable refurbishment to begin.
The new licensees, Kitty and Sean, shared their excitement about meeting guests at the White Horse.
The pair said in a joint statement that they were looking forward to becoming part of this vibrant community, learning who their regulars were, and making the pub a warm and welcoming spot where all felt comfortable.
They invited people to drop by after the revamp, say hello, and enjoy a drink together, adding they could not wait to make new acquaintances.
The renovation programme is expected to include a complete overhaul, interior repainting throughout, a refreshed back bar section, upgraded lavatories, a fresh darts and drinking area, and changes to the outside beer garden.
Tradespeople were spotted completing exterior work at the premises earlier today.
Before the Greene King-owned establishment shut, a message to customers stated that the team would miss everyone, with Doreen and the White Horse staff expressing heartfelt thanks for the previous three years.
Greene King had been searching for a fresh team to take on management of the pub.
The company said in a vacancy notice posted towards the end of the prior year that pub managers in Oxfordshire might be interested in running their own venue.
The White Horse in Abingdon was converting to a Hive franchise operation.
The advertisement sought someone with community spirit, a love of quality hospitality, and the ability to build a loyal customer base.
A Hive Pub franchise offered the chance to be self-employed along with lower running costs compared to a typical tenancy agreement.
Greene King would supply new franchisees with a full training scheme, a fully refurbished pub ready for business, and coverage of most operational expenses.
The White Horse had previously been under the control of the town own Morland brewery, which stopped trading in 2000.
The pub had built a strong reputation for its restaurant offerings, serving reasonably priced pub meals such as fish and chips, as well as hosting large screens showing sporting events, particularly Premier League football.
The Oxfordshire branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) highlighted that the pub structure held Grade II listed building status.
The organisation noted that originally belonging to Abingdon Borough, the White Horse dated back to 1845 and had various tenants working as coal merchants and publicans before the Morland family took over.
Greene King purchased the property in 1999 and extended this Grade II listed structure to provide dining facilities.
This classic British pub includes a front garden area and its own car park.