A SOUTHAMPTON pub has pulled its first pints after being taken over by a major chain.

The Red Lion pub in Bitterne has been redeveloped by JD Wetherspoon, with staff and customers preparing for the official opening.

In total £1.6m has been invested in the pub, which has been given a brand new look.

New manager Natalie Owens has been working for the chain for 15 years, and says she can’t wait to get started.

Natalie, 33, said: “I really want the pub to have a personal feel for the customers to be able to come in and enjoy themselves.

"All of the staff are very happy and so excited to get going.

“A lot of them are new and so everything they’ve learned, they want to put into practice now.”

Natalie has been a manager with the chain for 11 years, and has come to manage the pub in Bitterne from The Wagon Works in Eastleigh.

Natalie said: “It’s the building of relationships that I want to develop and I hope that other businesses in Bitterne follow suit and we can form some great partnerships.

“We want to be a part of the heart of the community.”

The chain, which has 903 outlets across the UK and 25 in Hampshire, exchanged to purchase the pub in August 2015.

The upstairs of the building has now been refurbished for extra room, as the chain launches its food menu into the restaurant.

The pub will now be open between 8am and midnight every day, serving food until 11pm.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “We are thrilled that our new pub is opening on the 28th. The pub looks fantastic and we believe that it will be popular with people of all ages in the town.

“Hopefully it will act as a catalyst for other businesses to invest in Bitterne.”

Bitterne councillor Ivan White also hopes the chain will attract other businesses to the area.

Cllr White said: “I hope it brings some vibrancy to that area, it’s not the most vibrant part of the precinct. It should encourage people to go there.

“I love the area but it is lacking something, and I hope Wetherspoon brings that something back. The addition of food may bring in other types of people too.

“It may also attract other big names to Bitterne and the newcomers who are attracted by the pub I hope will also support the other businesses.”