Historic Kinver pub serves up a £1.5m new look and 40 jobs
A historic pub near Kinver has received a £1.5million refurbishment, creating 40 new jobs.
The Manor House of Whittington, formerly the Whittington Inn, near Kinver will re-open its doors to customers on November 27.
It closed at the end of August for the work to take place.
As part of the project, the building's distinctive yellow paintwork has been replaced with a new grey look and a garden area with seating has been created outside.
New signs have also been put up around the building reflecting the name change.
Work has also been carried out inside the pub.
The project has taken the best part of three months to complete and has been carried out after pub company Revere took over the site in August.
Although the official launch of the new-look pub is on November 27, there will a dry run and some soft opening events ahead of the day.
Spokesman Melanie Rawlings said: "The total amount spent on the refurbishment is £1.5 million.
"Around 40 new jobs have been created by the project."
The jobs created are both part and full-time and include positions such as bar and kitchen staff.
The pub will serve wood-fired pizzas, steaks, craft beers and cocktails.
Staffordshire county councillor for Kinver Brian Edwards said: "It has been closed for a time and I think some people were wondering what was happening to the place.
"It is a very well-known hostelry and I am delighted to hear it will be re-opening again soon.
"We welcome the refurbishment and the jobs which have been created.
"I think it will bring a lot of people into this area. I am really pleased the project is now nearing completion."
The building itself is more than 700 years old and has a wealth of stories to its name.
It is reputed to have been built in 1310 by Sir William de Whittington, a knight of arms and owner of the land around Kinver.
His grandson was the famous Dick Whittington, who became Lord Mayor of London.
During the English civil war in the 1640s, King Charles II used a priest hiding hole in the manor following the Battle of Worcester.
In 1711 Queen Anne spent a night at the manor house and the solid oak front door holds one of only two her Royal seals in the country.
In 1788 Lord Stamford changed the manor house into an Inn.
He brought the licence and the old sign-board from the original Whittington Inn a few hundred yards away.
Lord Stamford also removed the stained glass window carrying the arms of the Whittington family with the de Staffords and the Lowes.
