The John Gregory on Radipole lane is closing on Monday for a major £527,000 refurbishment by Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars.

The pub will be closed for nine and a half weeks reopening on the weekend of 26-27 April and create six new jobs.

Inside the central staircase is being moved to the rear of the pub and a new bar fitted in its place to create a more open room with added space and to improve the flow in the pub. The sports bar will have better access to the bar area, whilst screens and a mix of freestanding upholstered tub chairs, benches and booths will create different seating areas for drinking, eating or just having a coffee.

The look and feel of the pub will be of a modern and stylish incorporating top quality materials like velvets and leather fabrics on the chairs, new parquet floors, a feature tiled ceiling and more modern lighting. There will be retro Weymouth posters and wood panelling on the wall.

The sports bar is being brought into the 21st century with neon light signs on the wall and quirky sports themed artwork, new carpets and lighting. It will have a pool table, darts area and two screens fitted for viewing live sport. The loos are also having a top to toe makeover bringing them up to the standard of the rest of the pub, and a new kitchen is being installed to enable the pub to offer good quality pub food.

Outside, the pub is being given a complete facelift with a new entrance, signage and lighting. Outdoor capacity is being increased by two thirds providing seating for 85. At the front of the pub, there will be a mix of paved patio, decking and astroturf, with wooden pergolas, covered seating areas with cushioned benches, outdoor heaters and new planters and festoon lighting for alfresco eating and dining in warmer weather. There will also be a separate smoking area with bar style stools and tables and benches.

The new licensee of the John Gregory is Victor Szkaolski, who has turned around a number of pubs in Weymouth over the last 13 years. Also new will be the pub’s manager Sylvia Boruch, a well-known and much-loved Weymouth publican, and her partner Kate Skomra, who is taking on the role of chef.

Victor’s plans for the pub include opening from 9am to serve fresh ground coffee, cake and pastries for parents after the school run, salads and sandwiches at lunch and pub classics like burgers, pies and fish & chips in the evening.

There will be an extensive drink selection of craft, cask and local ales, wines for different budgets, ciders and a wide choice of gins and whiskeys. The latest beer dispense technology, a HEINEKEN Smart Dispense system, is being installed to produce consistent superior quality draught beer and cider.

The entertainment will include pool, darts, monthly quiz nights and country and 1980s theme nights and on Friday and Saturday nights there will be live acoustic music by local musicians.

Victor said of the refurbishment: “This is fantastic news for Weymouth. It’s the biggest project in Weymouth aimed at the local community. There is nothing of this quality for the people who live and work in Weymouth and their families – the fishermen, the people working in shops, bars and restaurants. It’s going to be somewhere you can have a coffee or tea, pop in for a pint, to watch sport or bring your grandma or your family for a meal.

“I’ve realised over the years how important pubs are to communities and that’s why I love them. They are much more than where you eat and drink – they are a part of people’s lives, places to hold christenings and funerals and everything in between. We’re looking forward to opening the doors and looking after the people of Weymouth who spend so much time looking after others.”

Neil Convery, regional operations director for Star Pubs & Bars said: “Heineken is a passionate supporter of the great British pub and is investing in pubs like The John Gregory to help them deliver excellent quality, attract customers and thrive in their communities for years to come.

“We’re delighted to be investing in the John Gregory, giving it a new lease of life. The refurbishment will improve the look and comfort of the pub for existing customers and broaden its appeal, whilst the introduction of food will give people more reasons to visit. We’re also pleased that Victor has decided to take on the John Gregory as he has a great track record and he and Sylvia are well known in Weymouth, so know what residents want. We wish them the very best in their new roles.”