A PUB and restaurant in the heart of a borough town is set to reopen next week, shaking of past controversy with the promise of a new beginning.

Terence Remmell is the new landlord of the New Courthouse in Stanford-le-Hope and he is promising a fresh start after a troubled 2024 for the venue, which was closed down by Thurrock Council for repeated breaches of noise regulations.

The Stonegate pub chain, which operates the venue, supported the council's action, removed the previous tenant and set about finding a new licensee.

Mr Remmell is that man and he has been busy getting ready for the reopening.

A date is not set in stone yet, as work is still underway but Mr Remmell has earmarked Wednesday, 16 April for the opening.

He told Thurrock Nub News: "We did originally plan to have bouncy castles and slides for the bank holiday weekend, but due to the weather forecast being bad we have cancelled this, but intend to have pork roast on a Saturday and I think on the Sunday it will be a family day with face painting.

"I've completely refurbished the New Courthouse, I've had loads of replastering done for the building, lowered ceilings, completely refurbished toilets, renewed pipework, and some of drain work, so there is no more flooding.

"The small function room is redecorated and rewiring and lighting throughout the bar and restaurant will be finished by the middle of May."