A BASINGSTOKE pub is set for a £200,000 refurbishment and will undergo a name change after being taken over by a new licensee.

The Skewers, in Windrush Close, Basingstoke, has been closed for nearly a year but will re-open as the Riverdene, run by Craig Millan.

The major refurbishment, partly funded by owners Star Pubs and Bars, which is part of the Heineken group, is expected to take four weeks before the pub re-opens in early June.

South African Craig, from Basingstoke, who is an IT consultant, said running a pub has been his lifelong dream.

He added: "I'm passionate about pubs and it was sad to see a pub with such potential boarded up and closed. I want to make it an asset for Basingstoke and a place where the whole family and all ages feel welcome."

The refurbishment will transform the pub inside and out, with a new dining area, coffee bar with comfortable sofas and a new kitchen to enable the pub to serve food.

As a former pizza restaurant owner, Craig's menu will focus on delivering pizzas and salads and a taste of his native South Africa, with summer weekend barbecues planned to include everything from burgers and steaks to traditional Boerewors sausages homemade in the Riverdene's kitchen.

Craig, whose grown up children will help out behind the bar, also hopes to hold events to revitalise the pub, including discos and quizzes, whilst the bar area will focus on sports, offering big screens for viewing.

A two-metre wide drop down screen is being fitted for celebrations of major sporting events.

The re-opening of the pub is set to create 12 new jobs and five apprenticeships.

Craig said: "I worked with apprentices as an IT consultant and it was incredibly rewarding to be able to help such high calibre and committed young people progress. The hospitality industry is a fantastic training ground and I want to offer the same opportunity for local young people at the Riverdene."

Chris Jowsey, Star Pubs and Bars trading director, added: "It's tough running a pub with increasing competition for customers' disposable income. Heineken is a passionate supporter of the great British pub and has invested in pubs like the Riverdene to help them deliver excellent quality, attract customers and thrive at the heart of their communities for years to come."