£1m makeover for town centre pub and hotel (From Andover Advertiser)

£1m makeover for town centre pub and hotel

12:00am Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News

AN Andover town centre pub and hotel is undergoing a £1million makeover to breathe life back into it.

The Danebury Hotel is under new ownership and will undergo the transformation over the next nine to ten months and bring with it 30 jobs.

The changes will see the accommodation up from 21 to 36 rooms and introduce a restaurant for 120 diners as well as a traditional pub.

The building will be revert to its previous name of the Star and Garter and will make use of the buildings at the back providing disabled accommodation facilities.

Owner Mark Bowley is no stranger to this kind of project having already revamped 11 premises and currently owns similar properties in Alton, Yeovil, Salisbury, and near Bournemouth.

He says the hotel’s interior will most closely resemble his hotel The Bridge House in Ferndown near Bournemouth.

“The bedrooms are going to be contemporary with the latest technology including power showers, flat-screen TVs and Wi- Fi, but keep the traditional look of the building,” he said.

“It’s not going to be so contemporary downstairs and will be made to look more traditional.

“The restaurant will serve a carvery which will be freshly cooked every day.

“The pub will, amongst other things, serve real ales, wines, premium lagers and snacks.

“We are not tied to any brewery so we can do what we want.

“We chose Andover because we felt that this is something the town is lacking.

“We are looking forward to having it finished and having it all up and running.”