Among those making the most of the last day of rest today before heading back to the hospitality frontline on Monday is Red Lion manager Charlie Neill-Hall.

Charlie and his team will be reopening the doors of the High Street pub at noon tomorrow, and hope the fresh start will enable them to put the troubles of last year behind them and forge a successful future.

As well as months of enforced closure under lockdown, the team also had to cope with a devastating fire that ripped through the kitchen and staff quarters last July, forcing them to shut just two weeks after reopening following the first lockdown.

But Charlie and his team have spent their closure time well, revamping and refreshing the pub and introducing a whole new Italian menu. Insurance cash has paid for a new kitchen and new staff quarters.

"Everything's been restored, and we've made the best of it," Charlie told Godalming Nub News.

"At the time it was a struggle, but in many ways the lockdown couldn't have come at a better time for us, it gave us a chance to refurbish and refresh the place."

Now, deep cleaned and redecorated, the building is positively gleaming in anticipation of the fresh start.

Italian menu.

The decision to opt for a menu of Italian fare, inspired and prepared by a new Italian chef, was made due to the success of the pub's takeaway offerings over this last lockdown. When the Red Lion reopened last year, with the requirement to offer substantial meals to customers, they still had no kitchen - so they fired up the pizza oven. "That went really well, so we decided to follow through and expand on that," says Charlie. The new Italian offering, which will also include steaks, will tempt in new diners as well as the crowd of regulars that have supported the venture through the setbacks of the last year. It's a new start, and a tentative one on the food front: "We're starting off quite small and we're going to expand on that with the new menu," Charlie says. "We thought there was a gap in the market for a proper Italian experience." Opening hours.

From noon on Monday the Red Lion will be open from noon to midnight, seven days a week. Food will be served from noon to 2.30pm and 6pm to 10pm every day, and all day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The popular collection and delivery service will also keep running for those who are not comfortable sitting outside just yet.

It's been a long time since Christmas Eve, when the pub was last open, and Charlie says the team are looking forward to welcoming back old customers and new visitors.

"We love looking after people and giving people a great experience," he says.

There are also several new additions to the bar and waiting crew ready to take your order - the Red Lion has taken on 12 new staff to help with the relaunch. Staff who were furloughed under the Government's scheme are also returning.

"It's great to be able to open up again and provide employment for local people," he says.

Fresh start.

Charlie is looking forward to a fresh start too - last summer's fire not only affected the business but also swept through the staff living quarters, destroying most of his possessions. But he says he was blown away by the support he received from customers and supporters, who rallied round to help, raising money to help replace some of his lost possessions, and offering support with cleaning up. "It's been a challenge and a worry: its been tough," Charlie acknowledges, but he is full of praise for the people who supported him and his team at the time. "The community really rallied round," he says. " I can't thank them enough for all they did for us." Before the chain of disasters of last year hit, The Red Lion was well known for its comedy nights and its live music, and Charlie is full of plans to kickstart them again once Covid regulations allow. "The regulars are all itching to get back, and we've opened up the diary for bookings and are looking forward to welcoming people back," he said. He has invested in a new table ordering system, and a new revamped outside area, with cabanas and a pergola decked with hanging baskets. Bookings have been flooding in, and Charlie is confident the new season will get off to a busy start. It's been an eventful three years since he took over as manager: "We've had our ups and downs," he says, with commendable understatement, but now he and his team are looking forward with cautious optimism to what they hope will be a busy time ahead.