A vacant pub is due to reopen following a substantial £220,000 renovation in west Oxfordshire. 

The Chequers Inn in Corn Street in Witney is undergoing a refurbishment after being bought by pub group Craft Union.

The pub, which is the company's 600th launch, will be renamed the Fleece & Flagon.

Craft Union said it has improved the quality of the interior throughout "creating warm, comfortable social areas".

"This will also include the addition of great sports viewing, as well as a new state of the art dart board area, for any avid sporting fans," it said.

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New operator Kylie Downie has worked extensively throughout her career in pubs.

Kylie Downie is the new operator at the former Chequers Inn (Image: Craft Union)

She said: "After visiting Witney I knew this was the town I wanted to settle in long term and when the opportunity came up to run the Fleece & Flagon I was delighted. 

"I have big plans for the pub's future and am looking forward to getting to know the locals and finding out what they want out of their community pub."

She added: "I love that Witney is so picturesque and full of local businesses and I want the Fleece & Flagon to represent all that is great about Witney, its sense of community and heart.

"It's a very exciting time."

The pub is set in a Grade II listed building that dates back to the 1700s.

In the late 1700s, more than 3,000 people were employed in Witney’s wool trade, which the Fleece & Flagon moniker has been inspired by.  

The premises was previously the Chequers Smokehouse which closed in January due to rising costs.

Brets Burgers had been operating at the site since April.

Now the new look pub will be revealed next week at a launch party on Wednesday (July 24).

There will also be weekend celebrations from Friday, August 2 to Sunday, August 4 with a DJ set and karaoke from 8pm on the Friday, a family day with BBQ, face painting, photo booth and an ABBA tribute act on Saturday and an acoustic singer on Sunday.

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Craft Union said its philosophy "has always been centred around investing and putting quality pubs back into the heart of their local community which includes supporting local charities and causes.

"In honour of the Fleece & Flagon being Craft Union’s 600th pub, £600 will be donated to the Witney & West Oxfordshire Food Bank, a local charity dedicated to combating poverty and hunger in the region."

Craft Union, which is part of West Midlands-based Stonegate Group, reached its 500th pub milestone a little over a year ago.