A LANDLORD says he is turning around his pub's bad reputation and will soon unveil a new name.

In recent years vandalism, a lack of money and a few troublemakers have put people off going to the Rodbourne Arms in Cheney Manor Road.

But now new landlord Mick Williams, 46, and his wife Nicky, 32, are changing all that.

They say they have given the pub a new lease of life, making it not only a place for families but the community as well.

He's giving the pub a new identity with a new name set to be revealed next month.

"As a local lad from Moredon I have always heard that the Rodbourne Arms hasn't had the best of reputations," said Mick.

"In recent years people have said to me you don't want to be hanging around there' and that is the worst thing that can happen to a pub.

"So we've decided to give the place a whole new lease of life and one of the most important parts of that is giving it a new name so it can shed that bad reputation once and for all.

"I have tried to get the pub twice before and being local I know what the people in the area want from their pub.

"We've already given the place a lick of paint inside and out, and we've laid out a lawn at the back and now got a bouncy castle for the kids and we will be having meals soon.

"I have been here 10 weeks and made these changes and the transformation has been amazing.

"We've barred 19 of the troublemakers the small minority and we are getting many more new customers and we now have several darts teams playing here each night.

"I was expecting it to take six months to get to this stage, but the support has from the community has been fantastic and particularly from the local residents' association who were very vocal against the pub."

Other changes at the pub include a fenced-in area, and Mick has also applied for a music licence for the back bar.

He says he has no plans to open beyond 11pm at night.

Les White, the chairman of the Rodbourne Cheney Residents Association said: "Before there used to be a lot of vandalism at the pub, and many local people wouldn't go there, but the new landlord has changed all of that.

"He is a real force for good in the community."

  • There is a "guess the pub name" competition being run at The Rodbourne Arms.

Entry is £1 and the winner takes all. See staff for details.