TWO months ago it was shut while a Hampshire family battled through tragedy.

Now The Kings Arms pub in Lockerley, near Romsey, is back in business under new management.

As reported by the Daily Echo, the popular pub was closed when the previous landlord’s partner Alex Lewis fell seriously ill.

Lucy Townsend shut the pub after brave young dad Alex Lewis, 34, contracted a bacterial infection which forced the amputation of both his legs and one arm.

Now Marcus Pingriff has taken over the business after he was approached by owners Punch Taverns.

He said: “They said ‘we’ve got this gorgeous pub standing empty’ so I came and had a look and had a good feeling about it,” said Mr Pingriff.

“I’m confident we can re-establish it.”

Mr Pingriff, who has been in the licensed trade for 23 years, and has three pubs in Sussex, added the pub should start serving food from this weekend, offering “traditional pub fare with style”.

Meanwhile the Hampshire community has rallied around Alex, including Saints striker Jay Rodriguez and celebrity hairdresser Guy Kremer, to help raise money for his treatment at Salisbury District Hospital.

He has also set up the Al Lewis Trust charity, backed by the Daily Echo, to support the intensive care unit at the hospital.