The Drum & Monkey in Swadlincote has reopened today, Friday 14 August, following a combined £134,000 investment from licensee Dom Knight and Admiral Taverns.
Located on Castle Road in Castle Gresley, the community pub has undergone improvements across its interior and outdoor areas ahead of the reopening.
Inside, new fixtures, fittings, furniture and décor have been introduced throughout the venue.
The exterior has also been repainted and fitted with new signage, while the pub’s two beer gardens at the side and rear have been upgraded.
Together, the outdoor spaces will accommodate up to 130 people, with a new covered area in the rear garden designed to allow it to be used throughout the year.
The pub’s own website also highlights its large beer garden, covered outdoor space and children’s play area alongside its family and dog-friendly positioning.
Licensee Dom Knight brings almost two decades of pub industry experience and has operated the Drum & Monkey since May.
Knight plans to develop the venue as a community-focused pub through regular entertainment and fundraising activity.
Monthly live music and DJ events are planned, alongside fundraising initiatives including football shirt raffles supporting mental health charity Men and Their Emotions.
Knight said: “It has been brilliant seeing the refurbishment take shape over the past few weeks.
“Seeing my vision for the place come to life has been fantastic, and I cannot wait to open the doors and welcome everyone into the new space.
“The support from the local community since I took over in May has been wonderful, and I hope to be serving locals here for many years to come.
“I would also like to thank the team at Admiral Taverns for their help throughout this entire journey.”
The refurbished pub will offer a range of cask ales, draught lagers and ciders, including Madri, Stella Artois, Carling, Guinness, Beavertown Neck Oil, Strongbow, Pedigree and Bass.
A new food menu prepared on site is also being introduced, featuring pub dishes including burgers, fish and chips and chicken wings.
The Drum & Monkey’s current offer also includes live sport across multiple screens, alongside pool, darts and regular entertainment.
The pub is owned by Admiral Taverns, which operates more than 1,350 predominantly wet-led community pubs across its estate.
The reopening follows a series of recent investments by Admiral Taverns in its community pub estate, including a £130,000 refurbishment of The Meon in Portsmouth, which reopened on 8 August.
Richard Skinner, Business Development Manager at Admiral Taverns, said: “Dom has done a fantastic job at the Drum & Monkey since taking over in May, and it is a pleasure to see him reopen the newly refurbished pub.
“This is a wonderful community spot that is now even better positioned to serve the area, whether that is for a quick pint in the garden or a delicious meal.
“Dom and the entire team have worked tirelessly over the past few weeks to ensure every detail of the renovation is just right.
“On behalf of myself and everyone at Admiral Taverns, I would like to wish Dom and his team the very best for the future.”
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