The completion of a refurbishment in excess of £100,000 is set to give a popular pub “a new lease of life”.

Wanstead’s Nightingale Pub will be opening again this week, after being closed for two weeks, to showcase all the work that has been undertaken.

The outside of the pub has been repainted and new exterior lighting and signposts installed.

Seating and layout has also been changed with bench seating in the front removed, allowing for more space, and a lounge named after late-17th century community figure Madame Butterfield.

The pub in Nightingale Lane beat around 750 other pubs to the Enterprise Inns Cellar Keeper of the Year award in Greater London back in June.

Manager Noel McMahon has also run pubs in Forest Gate, Manor Park and even the British Queen in New Wanstead for ten years.

He said: “It is going to give us a new lease of life, we haven’t had a major refurbishment in about 20 to 25 years so it was needed.

“We have to compete with the other pubs in the area so this will give us a boost.

“It needed money spent on it but we have tried to maintain the traditional feel to it while giving it a fresh and modern look.

“It is exciting to see it all coming together.”

Management at other pubs in the area have chopped and changed in the past few years but Mr McMahon has owned the pub since 1987.

He said: “I think we have a good standing in the community and I like to think we give a good service of good quality food and beer.

“It is a traditional pub with a great atmosphere, there are no gimmicks and it is the centre of the community.”

On Thursday (October 1) at 7pm, Nightingale Pub is set to be officially opened by the Mayor of Redbridge, councillor Barbara White.

Then the next day it will open to the general public with a range of deals on drinks and food.