A rundown Ashby pub has been relaunched and given a new lease of life.

The Queen's Head in Market Street is doing business again after it was bought by a local family - which also owns a number of businesses in the Leicestershire and Derbyshire area - and refurbished in just five weeks.

The bar has been taken over by Kang Leisure - which has redesigned the venue over two levels.

The Queen's Head re-opened - aptly - during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee holiday

They wanted the Queen's open again - fittingly - for the four-day Platinum Jubilee holiday earlier this month, and managed it with perfect timing after a rapid turnaround.

But, long term, they are keen to revive a well-known Ashby building.

Ashby Nub News reported in February that the pub had new owners - and that was seen as good news for a town which has been lost some key businesses in recent months.

Now they have re-opened the downstairs bar to customers with a view to attracting people of all ages.

Upstairs, The Loft is open and is planned as a sports bar which will also offer food.

The downstairs area of the pub has been reopened

There are still some hotel rooms available and work on Ciro's nightclub to the rear of the historic building was completed last week.

The new management says the nightclub is a whole new concept - and is due to have a few surprises in store for customers over the next few weeks.

The initial signs are encouraging since the pub re-opened with the Queen's Head proving popular so far.

A spokesman for Kang Leisure told Ashby Nub News: "The building hasn't had much spent on it for some time.

"It was quite dilapidated and we're looking to invigorate it.

But some of the old features of the Queen's Head have stayed

"But we wanted to make sure we were open for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee - especially as it's the Queen's Head!

"It's about giving customers something new to look forward to after the pandemic - and a new lease of life to a building which contains a great deal of heritage.

"We've had some banks closing in Ashby and we didn't want this to be another venue that wasn't open.

"A lot of things have been replaced, such as new speakers as well as some of the beer lines, with fresh, new ones.

"But in the downstairs bar, we've kept a traditional standard with the beams in place. We welcome old and new customers.

"We've kept the DJ booth upstairs and there'll be a Friday night vibe going on.

"The Loft will also have a pool table as well.

"A lot of work has been happening here though, which is as it should be as not much has been spent here.

"We'd also like to thank everyone who's worked tirelessly to make this happen. It's been flat out and thanks to all the people who've visited us so far."

Ashby Town councillor Graham Allman added: "In my role as representative on Ashby Pub Watch for Ashby de la Zouch Town Council, I've been diligently following and advising on the acquisition of the Queen's Head Hotel, by Kang Leisure which completed in February 2022 following many months of protracted negotiations .

"Since which they have invested a huge amount of capital into what was an extremely run-down historic coaching inn bringing it up to modern standards, and will now become a prestigious town centre venue sitting as it does, as a town landmark, proudly on Market Street.

"Ashby is a magnet for its vibrant and diverse night-time economy and the re-vamped Queen's Head will once again be a jewel in Ashby's crown and support its proud purple flag status."