A TRADITIONAL pub which has been given a £150,000 makeover as a sports bar will be almost unrecognisable to regulars who return when it re-opens this evening. (Thursday)

The Bell By The Green in Devizes has been closed since before Christmas for huge changes to be made by brewery Wadworth to the layout and decoration.

Experienced tenants James Blake and Tricia Baldwin have moved from The Cavalier in Eastleigh Road to take over the revamped pub which has wood and tiled flooring, vibrantly coloured bench seating and contemporary lighting.

The bar has moved to one end of the pub making the now open plan floor space far more spacious and seven large screen TVs and two pool tables have been installed.

The couple, who have four children, are excited by the new challenge. Ms Baldwin said: "It looks fantastic and we can't wait to open now.

"We want it to be a community pub and we already have darts, pool and skittles teams lined up."

The couple's youngest child Matthew, 10, is autistic and was helped in his early years by Devizes Opportunity Centre. Ms Baldwin said: "We have done a lot of fundraising for the opportunity centre and we will continue with that here at The Bell."

They will live over the pub and are delighted by the views of The Crammer.

The kitchen has also be modernised complete with a pizza oven and the pub will sell food such as burgers, hot dogs and pizzas lunchtimes and evenings.

Wadworth operations director Lloyd Stephens said, “This is great investment by Wadworth in our home town. The Bell by the Green is in such a central location which means that this area of the town will really benefit from the added facilities now provided at the pub."

The pub officially reopens to the public tonight (thurs) from 8.00pm with a live band, football freestyle displays and a footpool competition.