The Bladebone in Bucklebury gets a £250,000 revamp

The award-winning 17th-century gastro pub The Bladebone in Bucklebury is now reopen for business.

The Bladebone – named so in 1666 when the 'bladebone' of a mammoth was sealed in copper and hung above the door – reopened on Friday after a fourth-month renovation.

The pub – which has welcomed the likes of the Middleton family and TV personality Chris Tarrant through its doors – hopes to continue its success after its latest £250,000 refurbishment.

Head chef Richie Sanderson took over the pub in 2015 and also manages The Bull Inn at Stanford Dingley.

He said: "It got to the stage with the pub when I couldn't do anymore with what we had there.

"We had made the bar area beautiful and the conservatory was looking great, but the back of house wasn't matching up to the front, so the option we had was either to put the extension on or move to a different location, but my story wasn't over yet at The Bladebone."

It is business as usual for the pub, which is boasting new wines and menus and is already fully-booked for Christmas Day. It also has plans to host regular seafood evenings and a gin festival next summer.

He added: "A lot of people in the community have been in touch supporting us all through the works, making sure we will be open for Christmas.

"The staff are just buzzing and we're now attracting new staff as well. The industry is very light on staff at the moment. By showing people what we've done and how we've invested, it creates a really nice working environment which is massively important."

A 15-year extension has been added to the pub's lease.

"You've got to put more in than you take out and that's what gives you longevity," said Mr Sanderson.

"That's what I've always done and we're going to be here for a long time yet."