A PUB was packed out for the first time it has opened its doors since a £170K refurbishment.

The Navigator, located on Bridge Road in Lower Swanwick, celebrated its refurb launch with sampled fare from the new pizza oven, 2-4-1 cocktails and entertainment from bands One 4 the Road and the River Gypsies.

Nick Hall, manager at The Navigator, said: “It was fantastic to see so many faces, both old and new at the launch. It’s the ongoing support from the local community that allows us to continue expanding and developing our offering.

"Thanks to my dedicated team for all their hard work on the evening - they did a fantastic job keeping the drinks flowing and the pizzas went down a treat."

The Navigator is part of the Upham Pub group, a family of 15 pubs across the south.

He added: “The Upham Group’s investment has allowed us to update our dining experience to meet our customers’ evolving needs.

"The Navigator's updated menu and new resources and are perfect additions to support the team in providing exceptional service.”

A redesigned, expanded dining area and brand new, wide-choice menu has transformed the pub.

It took five weeks to complete.