THE Green Dragon in South Street, Wellington, re-opened with plenty of customers taking a look at the £400,000 refit for the first time.

Jamie Holmes, who is managing the pub with his wife Becky, said: “People are amazed at what the Chapman Group have done to the place. There was certainly plenty of interest on Saturday night.”

The restaurant may open on Friday and there will eventually be a meeting room and 13 en suite bedrooms for guests which will also be managed by Jamie and Becky, previously stewards at Wellington Conservative Club.

The Green Dragon, which has been a pub since 1766, will have a staff of eight.

Wellington is set to have another pub opening in the town with work on the new Wetherspoon in the old town hall building likely to be completed by mid-July, costing £2.3 million and creating up to 50 new jobs.