A POPULAR Worcester pub is being revamped but will stay loyal to its real ale roots when it reopens under new management.

The Dragon Inn at 51 The Tything, Worcester, has been taken over by Church End Brewery with work continuing to refurbish the interior.

The outside of the pub, which had been red and white, has been repainted in crisp blue and white colours.

The new sign has yet to be put up but the managers will keep the name the 'Dragon Inn' and promise to offer a good selection of the real ales for which the pub has long been known.

A planning application has been granted by Worcester City Council for the

demolition of the existing men's and women's toilet block at the back of the pub.

The plans also include a new single storey rear extension and internal alterations.

Stewart Elliott, father of licensee Katie Elliott, said: "We bought the pub in September and we have been doing building works.

"We're not shutting it until this Sunday. It will be closed for a month to five weeks while we complete the work on the bar."

The living accommodation and the cellar have already been refurbished and he said the tradition of serving real ales would continue.

Bill Ottaway, a press officer for the Worcester branch of CAMRA, said the pub had a loyal crowd of regulars and had been owned Richard Appleton for many years.

He said: "I know there are regulars that go there who are very interested to see how things change. It had been owned by the same person for many, many years.

"From a local CAMRA point of view the branch is very keen to see its tradition of being a real ale pub continue.

"It was one of the top pubs in the city for real ale. It is up to the new people to maintain the good name of that pub. The front of the pub looks fantastic now. It makes it really stand out."

Mr Ottaway said he was pleased to see another brewery pub open in Worcester alongside the King Charles II in New Street and the Imperial Tavern in St Nicholas Street which he described as 'an interesting trend'.

He said he hoped there would be regular guest beers and was pleased to see members of the existing staff had been retained.

Mr Ottaway hopes the outdoor seating area will remain and welcomed the demolition of the outdoor toilets which he said needed to be updated.