April 12th is a big day in the calendar for local pubs as the lockdown rules will be eased to allow landlords to serve customers in their beer gardens.

For one Godalming pub it will be much more than that though -for Charlie Neill-Hall and his staff at The Red Lion it will be a new beginning after a disastrous year that has seen not only the battle against Covid and the financial impact of three lockdowns, but also a devastating fire that shut the pub only weeks after a relaunch last July.

A fire broke out in the pub kitchen, and spread to staff quarters, destroying possessions and rendering the rooms uninhabitable. The pub then had to shut while restoration work was carried out. Now, three lockdowns later, Charlie and his team are looking to the summer with optimism.

Charlie told Nub News: "We will be opening again as soon as restrictions allow. We have pretty much completely re-done our garden as well as our kitchen. We are also bringing in a new menu."

In the next two weeks work will finish on the revamped garden area that will enable customers to enjoy their drinks under the pergola or pick a seat in one of the new cabanas.

"This is quite an exciting time for us," Charlie added. "Everyone is looking forward to it now. We're just keeping our fingers crossed that we won't lock down again."