LISS Forest is celebrating the re-opening of The Temple Inn on Forest Road following a £300,000 refurbishment.

The refurb has been undertaken by entrepreneurs Mark Robson and Mark Williams, co-founders of award-winning Red Mist Leisure, turning it into a pub the village and surrounding areas can all love, frequent again and be proud of.

The community’s village pub, which has been closed since January 2017, is the group’s 10th pub, of which half are in Hampshire.

The refurb is said to have “greatly improved the design, ambience and facilities” of The Temple Inn, putting an end to fears that it was to become yet another of Britain’s dying pubs, thanks to the involvement of Red Mist Leisure, who were approached by a pub task force called Save Our Temple Inn, which had been formed via the Liss Residents’ Association.

Destined to become a popular pub, renowned for its fresh, seasonal and British food, as well as offering a wide array of local ales and craft beers, the new Temple Inn will offer the perfect combination of a traditional British pub, honouring its historic roots all the way back to 1870, combined with a relaxed, modern design to create an atmosphere for all to enjoy.

Pub manager Nat Thatcher said: “We are delighted to be open and look forward to welcoming our customers, both old and new. This is the start of a new era for The Temple Inn and we hope the locals of Liss Forest and the surrounding area, who were keen to save their pub, are proud of what we have all achieved together.”