The Railway pub in Lye to close for major refurbishment

The investment, by Heineken’s pub business Star Pubs & Bars and West Midlands pub operators Bolton Inns, will see the Pedmore Road pub transformed into a top-quality family friendly local with what is billed to become the best pub garden in the area.

Twenty new jobs are being created on the back of the changes to the pub, which will see food and barista style coffee introduced for the first time.

A new garden area will also be created - featuring a new play area with climbing frame swings and monkey bars and a covered and glazed sports area with pool tables, darts and big screens for watching live sports.

The patio is also being extended to create seating for 90 for alfresco eating and dining with festoon lighting.

The pub exterior will also be given a new look with the half of it re-rendered and new signage, lighting and planters installed.

Inside, the pub is being reconfigured to create more space and increase the seating capacity from 46 to 65.

A commercial kitchen will also be installed, enabling the pub to offer traditional pub food, and the decor will be upgraded with new lighting, wooden, tiled and carpeted flooring, leather seating and panelled and painted walls in muted colours.

Current managers, Michelle and Atty Davies, are staying on at the pub which will close on Monday October 7 and re-open mid to late November.

Michelle said: “We’ve been running The Railway for a year now in the knowledge that it was going to have a major investment.

"We can’t wait to open the doors and to create a real hub of the community. The pub has a massive garden, but no-one ever used it. That’s all about to change as the alterations being made will make it a sociable place where people will want to spend time.”

Regional operations director, Caren Geering, said: “The pub hasn’t been refurbished for 11 years.

"Heineken is a firm believer in the future of the great British local and is investing £50 million this year in pubs like The Railway to help them keep pace with peoples’ changing needs and expectations so that they can thrive for the long term.”