A new Leyton pub is hoping to breathe new life into a historic building after opening its doors last week.

Pepper’s Ghost, on the site of Shoe Laces sports bar in High Road, welcomed more than 300 punters for its launch on Thursday (September 8) following a £300,000 refit.

Run by new publicans Jeff Ginsburgh and Victoria Saunders, the bar will serve food, as well as staging a film club and live music.

Mr Ginsburgh said: ““Victoria and I were so excited to meet our new customers. The turnout was fantastic and by the reaction of everyone who attended we got it spot on.

“It was great to see the pub buzzing with so many guests - we felt very honoured that they all came down to join in the celebrations.”

A pub has stood at the site since the 1870s and was known as the Prince of Wales until 1997, when it was reopened as Shoe Laces.

Pepper’s Ghost is named after inventor and illusionist John Henry Pepper, who lived in Leytonstone for a short time until his death in 1900.