IT was a popular pub with something of a chequered history.

The Litten Tree in Eastleigh closed last week for a major revamp.

But now the owners are preparing a £300,000 revamp with a new name and more than doubling its workforce.

The Station will open in Eastleigh High Street with a launch party on May 20, celebrating the arrival of 12 new jobs.

A new menu, live music, poker and "party weekends" are among the additions, with landlords Stonegate Pub Company appealing to families during the day without changing their 3am closing time.

A spokesman said: "They wanted to ditch the Litten Tree brand – it's kind of synonymous with the high street binge drinking type.

"What they wanted to do was give it a new identity: therefore daytime becomes more about businesses and families, then going into the night it's like a chameleon."

Last year Stonegate, the large chain behind brands including Yates and Slug and Lettuce, won the right to serve alcohol at the Litten Tree until 3am despite initial police warnings that it could fuel problems.

There were several incidents including an unprovoked attack where a woman stabbed a man in the head with her shoe heel.

The most brutal recent incident saw mum-of-four Leigh Thompson beat a man in the head with the heel of her boot in an unprovoked 2am attack in 2014.

John Magee was left with a permanent forehead scar while Thompson, 32, from Gosport, was given a suspended sentence.

It is hoped the refurbishment will draw a line under the pub's history of trouble.

Brothers Jonathan and Samuel McKinley also drank in the pub several hours before they went on to murder Eastleigh newsagent Choudhry Zishan in the town centre last year.

Most work is taking place on the ground floor, with 12 kitchen and front-of-house jobs adding to the existing workforce of 10.

Manager Simon Bancroft added: “We also wanted to give both loyal and new customers the chance to be amongst the first to experience the new look at the VIP re-launch party, which is why we’re offering tickets via our Facebook page – though it’s going to be a bumper weekend so those who can’t make it have no fear of missing out."

Six full-time posts are still available. To apply, contact the duty manager on 02380 650530 or visit stonegateonline.net/careers.

The Station is also offering tickets to an invite-only launch party on Friday May 20th from 5pm until the public are let in at 7pm.

The circus-themed bash includes showgirls and an acoustic guitarist alongside food and drink samples.

Anyone interested in attending the VIP event can email littentree.eastleigh@stonegatepubs.com or visit facebook.com/StationEastleigh.