Pub is closing for three weeks as firm invests in extensive refurbishment

A BURTON pub has closed this week for a major makeover to meet demand for year-round outdoor dining.

The revamp of The Blacksmiths Arms in Main Street, Branston, is being undertaken by Heinekenowned Star Pubs & Bars and comes as licensee Maria Dillon prepares to celebrate her 17th anniversary at the helm.

The pub is scheduled to reopen on October 26 – in time for Halloween celebrations.

The makeover will see the outside of the pub renovated and repainted, with new signs, lighting and plants to “enhance the entrance to Branston”.

To meet increased demand for year-round alfresco eating and drinking, the work will extend the garden into the car park and create a 36-seat covered area, complete with heating and lighting.

There will be a complete refurbishment of The Blacksmiths Arms’ “dated” interior. Original features such as fireplaces will be retained, though, complemented by new flooring, furniture and designer lighting.

There will be a new dining area, fitted out with booth seating. Sports

Maria Dillon of the Blacksmiths Arms in Branston enthusiasts have not been forgotten and will benefit from a state-ofthe-art audio-visual system and big screens.

Maria and her family took over The Blacksmiths Arms in 2005, when it was reportedly rarely used, and transformed it into a hub of Branston life that has raised £15,000 for good causes in the past five years.

During lockdowns, Maria and her regulars worked tirelessly to help those in need. Their activities included providing quarantined toiletries to patients at Burton’s Queen’s Hospital and Royal Derby Hospital, delivering free Sunday lunches to people who were struggling and supplying muchneeded blankets and animal food to the RSPCA in Burton.

The pub also made masks, aprons and washbags for NHS staff and sourced hard-to-find items, such as flour and hand sanitiser, for villagers.

Maria said: “The Blacksmiths Arms has had a lot of use over the years and was in need of a refresh. The designs are beautiful and will give the pub the new lease of life it needs.

“It’s the perfect way to thank residents and regulars for all their support over the years and particularly during the pandemic. They make The Blacksmiths Arms, and their backing means the world to me. I can’t wait to open the doors again and show everyone their new-look local.”

Star Pubs & Bars’ investment manager Mike Smith said: “Maria is an outstanding licensee who really cares about the community and gives The Blacksmiths Arms its fantastic, friendly atmosphere.

“We’re delighted to be investing to enable her to keep it thriving for the long term. With all the housing being built in the vicinity, there is a real demand for great pubs.”

The refurbishment at The Blacksmiths Arms is part of a £38 million investment that Star Pubs & Bars is making in more than 700 pubs in 2021.