by Chloe Mosdell
messengernews@thekmgroup.co.uk

Work is underway on a £50,000 project to transform a former pole-dancing club into a family-friendly country pub.

The Three Squirrels in Stockbury Valley was bought at auction in April for £155,000 and is being turned into a bar, restaurant and entertainment centre.

Owner Malcolm Champion, who is renovating the property with his grandson Christopher Champion, expects it will take nine months to refurbish the building due to the extensive work that is needed.

There has been a three-week delay to the renovation works as Mr Champion has had problems with one of his other properties.

He said: “Very little has been done on the pub over the last three weeks, but now we are back and concentrating fully on getting the pub up and running.”

The 72-year-old businessman is looking forward to opening, saying: “There will be different types of entertainment on every evening.

“We’re having a full entertainment centre, music playing all the time, we have three TVs with football or soaps on, and live bands will be performing including The Carpenters and The Beatles tribute acts.”

The pub is set to open by next summer following the £50,000 revamp.