A SALISBURY pub that has been closed since last March for nerve agent decontamination is set to reopen, with a change of name, in April.

Residents and shoppers will soon notice increased activity at The Mill pub in the city centre as work begins to refurbish the building, following the granting of listed building and planning permission by Wiltshire Council.

The pub is expected to reopen in April, after a major refurbishment is carried out by the pub’s owner Greene King.

When it reopens, the pub will also return to its original name of The Bishop’s Mill, in a nod to the building’s heritage and position at the heart of the city centre.

The changes include enhancement to the outside of the pub and landscaping in the garden and provision of a glazed pergola, while the layout inside the pub will change with the repositioning of the bar and improving accessibility into the pub to enable easier use for all customers.

One of the staircases to the mezzanine level will also be removed to create a more open ground-floor space and allow for the creation of different areas inside the pub.

The aim is for the pub to once again become a successful place for visitors and residents of Salisbury alike.

Prior to submitting the application, Greene King consulted on the proposals with a number of groups, including Wiltshire Council, the Salisbury Civic Society and local councillors and there was general support as it was recognised that this is an important building for Salisbury.

The pub had been scheduled to open for Christmas, but plans were delayed due to the building's listed status.

Andrea Greenwood, operations manager for The Bishop’s Mill, said: “We are delighted to be an important step closer to reopening The Bishop’s Mill for the whole Salisbury community

“We are expecting building work to start imminently and to continue throughout March, with a reopening planned for April.

“It is now around a year since the terrible events of last March and our thoughts are very much with the people of Salisbury and especially those directly impacted by these events.”

A recruitment programme has been launched for the pub and anyone from the local community interested in joining the team in the kitchen and front of house can get in touch at 5227@greeneking.co.uk or 07506 448050.