Portsmouth Community Pub Reopens Following Transformational £130,000 Refurbishment

Popular community pub The Meon on Meon Road in Milton, Portsmouth will officially reopen at midday on Saturday 8th August following an impressive investment of £130,000 from Admiral Taverns, the UK's leading community pub company.

Passionate licensee Rachel Pitt hopes the refurbishment will bring a new lease of life to the pub, with a modernised feel and fresh look - whilst still retaining its original, characterful features - enabling the pub to continue its tradition of being the go-to community hub for local residents.

Internally, the pub has undergone a complete refurbishment to include new fixtures, decor and bespoke darts area. Externally, the Meon has been completely refreshed to include new lighting and a fresh coat of paint to welcome visitors.

Rachel has been the licensee at The Meon for over eleven years and going forward, she is committed to maintaining the community spirit and sports focused style of the pub.

Rachel Pitt, licensee at The Meon, commented: “It’s been amazing to see the transformation of the pub over the past few weeks. I hope customers old and new will love the new look when they visit. I’ve enjoyed my time at The Meon so far, and I am now excited for the future of this great pub. We are massive supporters of Portsmouth FC and can’t wait for the start of the season. We also have a highly successful football team as well as a thriving golf society to welcome back. The Meon has always been successful due to our loyal customers, and I hope this will continue for many years to come. Our fantastic team of bar staff can’t wait to welcome everyone back into the pub”

Following the refurbishment, the pub will host a wide range of drinks to welcome long-time locals and new customers back through the doors.

Stuart Watts, Business Development Manager at Admiral Taverns, added: “It’s brilliant to see the Meon opening its doors again after such a fantastic transformation, where Rachel and the team have put in an incredible amount of hard work to make sure every detail is just right. This pub is a vital part of the local community, and I have no doubt that the team here will be looking after locals for a long time to come. On behalf of everyone at Admiral Taverns, I want to wish Rachel and the entire team all the best for the future.”

Notes to Editors

Admiral Taverns (“Admiral”) is the UK’s number one community pub group. Headquartered in Chester; the Group operates a national estate of c. 1,350 predominantly wet-led community pubs. Admiral’s unique operational approach has earnt industry recognition with the Group winning Best Community Pub Operator at the 2024 Publican Awards, whilst also being shortlisted for Best Partnership Pub Company (501+ Sites). In 2019, 2016 and 2013, Admiral Taverns won Best Leased and Tenanted Pub Company at the Publican Awards and ranked highly commended as Best Community Pub Operator in 2017. The Group has also been consistently highly rated by licensees in the industry’s independent annual Tenant Track survey, exceeding the scores of all its national peers.

Admiral is committed to supporting licensees to run successful pubs with sustainable, long-term futures. The best licensees are passionate about pubs and eager to play a central role in their local communities. With a diverse range of pubs available across the UK, Admiral is always looking for talented people ready to partner with them to take the next step and run their own pub.

Operating as a true partnership, Admiral provides licensees with the freedom and autonomy to shape their pub around the needs of their community, while experienced Business Development Managers offer guidance and support at every stage. For many, it’s an opportunity not just to take on a pub, but to build a long-term business of their own.

For more information:

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