Staff at a Kenilworth pub have said they are "really excited" to invite locals to see its new look following a near £700,000 refurbishment.

The Queen and Castle closed on July 11 for five weeks for a complete renovation both inside and out.

And with the official launch party for the Castle Road pub's new look coming next Friday (August 12) general manager Beth Angwin said the team was looking forward to seeing what local people think of the changes.

"The team are really excited to welcome guests back. There was a lot of talk about the refurb when the planning application was put in, so it will be nice to invite everyone down to have a look," she told Nub News. 

"The local community is what is going to keep us going. 

"It is having a good reputation within Kenilworth that matters really. When tourists come, they will be asking locals where is best to go, so we hope everyone will like it."

One of the new signs being put in place outside the Queen & Castle (image supplied)

The renovations outside will see a big sail installed, with new outdoor furniture, and an extended slabbed area giving more space.

Inside, new furnishings, new flooring, tiling and wallpaper will also be on show.

Meanwhile the menu has also been spruced up with a few additions.

"It is going to feel like a very different pub when people come and drink and dine with us," Beth said.

She added: "It is an exciting menu change but our core dishes with the steaks, the dirty burgers, the linguine, the fish and chips, those core dishes will all stay the same but there are some exciting additions as well."

And with the pub not having had a major renovation for some time, she said it was time to give the venue a spruce up and a new lease of life.

Beth explained: "It was a bit tired. When guests come in and have a meal they don't necessarily see what we see day in day out. 

"We can make it look as pretty as we can do, but it needed something. 

"The kitchen definitely needed some work doing in it. 

"It was just time - I think the total investment is around £700,000 so it is a big investment in the pub for us to now pay back!"

The 'mood board' designers created before deciding on the new design for the Q&C (image supplied)

With the opening party just a week away, the staff, who have been taking holiday or working in other Mitchells and Butler-run venues over the past month, will return to the Q&C this weekend to get things ready.

Next week they will host a series of rehearsal nights, inviting friends and family, local media and regulars to various events throughout the week, all coming together on Friday for the opening party.

Beth said there was a mixture of emotions in advance of the reopening.

"In hospitality you are used to working so closely together, it is likely your little family really, so working from home and around the district has been very different," she said. 

"So there is definitely the excitement of getting the team back together.

"Nervous? Yes because we all want it to be a success.

"It is a mixed bag of feelings, excitement, nervous, but I also think we are going to do really well when we reopen and I think the people of Kenilworth are going to like it."