A pub which has served its community for almost 200 years could be restored in a £500,000 investment project. 

Owners Scott Randall, 45, and Andrew Zacharia, 38, have submitted plans to Redbridge Council to renovate the locally-listed pub, The Traveller's Friend, in High Road, Woodford Green.

Plans include building a single storey modern-day restaurant to the rear of the pub which will serve traditional British food, renovating a former function room on the first floor with separate accommodation for a manager's flat, and extending the second floor to include two two-bedroom apartments. 

Currently, the back of the pub includes a run-down shed, a small patio area and a concrete car park.

If granted, it will be the first time in 20 years the pub has served hot food and had an open function room. 

The main bar will be re-designed and extended and a complete new staircase built to access the first and second floor. 

The local businessmen bought the pub back in 2013 after its previous owner Bramwell Pubs got into huge debt and went into administration. 

Last year, they invested £30,000 in a beer garden which was awarded the borough's best pub garden at Redbridge Council's Bloom 2014 awards.  

Mr Zacharia, said: "This is a restoration project on a huge scale which will preserve a traditional building by bringing it into the 21st century. 

"As it stands the infrastructure cannot cope and neither can the demand. 

"The function room has fallen into complete disrepair but we hope to restore the original sash windows and open up the fireplace." 

Mr Randall says the pub's footfall has trebled in the last year and can no longer accommodate the amount of customers. 

He added: "We are doing this for the community who have been fully supportive of our plan, and they know we are not going to ruin this pub. 

"It is important we maintain it as we don't want it collapsing on us. It is a stunning building and by doing this, it will become a landmark in Woodford Green."