£450,000 Investment To Reopen Historic Winchester Pub After Seven-year Closure

A £450,000 refurbishment starts next week to reopen a prominent, Grade II-listed Winchester pub that has been closed since January 2019, ending residents’ concerns for its future.

The investment in the First In Last Out on Wales Road will establish it as a top-quality, family- and dog-friendly local serving home-cooked food and boasting a stunning 100-seater riverside garden. The project is being carried out by Heineken-owned Star Pubs and new licensee, Winchester born-and-bred Katie Moldon, who is a former customer of the First In Last Out.

The overhaul breaks ground on 20th April, and the First In Last Out will open in early June, creating six new jobs.

The external works will carefully renovate the 18th-century brick building, painting the woodwork sage green and erecting new signage and lighting. The revamp will transform the large, overgrown rear garden – which has access onto the River Itchen and the Itchen Way – with smart new furniture, planting and festoon lighting. With walkers in mind, barista-quality coffee will be served all day, and there will be a dog station providing treats and water bowls on the house for any accompanying four-legged friends.

A sympathetic internal makeover will retain all the pub’s character and charm, whilst upgrading it throughout. Features such as the old fireplaces, flagstone floors and timber beams will be restored and complemented with a warm, timeless décor incorporating rich heritage colours and classic furniture. Artwork and pictures of the pub and Winchester over the years will adorn the walls.

The layout will cater for all, with a comfortable dining area overlooking the outside terrace, a spacious bar for drinks and socialising, and two snugs – one kitted out with halo-lit darts. Other improvements include the installation of Sky Sports and a kitchen refit to enable Katie to introduce freshly prepared food.

On the food front, customers can expect homemade pub classics, such as hearty pies and fish & chips, and bar snacks like loaded fries and nachos. Sunday roasts, served from a new carvery, will be a speciality, and there will be an outdoor barbecue on summer weekends. Katie wants to put the pub on the map for the quality of its drink as well as its food and, to that end, is revamping the cellar with state-of-the-art dispense equipment to ensure consistently perfect pints.

In line with Katie’s ambition to reinstate the First In Last Out as the popular local she remembers from her youth, the pub will provide space for meetings of local groups, and there will be a host of activities to bring people together. On the cards are a regular quiz, live music and sports screenings, as well as themed food nights. In addition, there will be special events on key occasions like Easter, Halloween and Christmas, and fundraisers in aid of local good causes selected by regulars.

Says Katie, who has worked in hospitality across Hampshire since her teens: “I’ve driven past the First In Last Out many times over the years and felt sad to see it boarded up. I’ve always wanted a business of my own, and one day it just clicked that it was the perfect opportunity. It’s a gorgeous old building with lots of potential and, like many Winchester residents, I’ve got happy memories of its glory days. I love meeting people, and I’d like to bring the First In Last Out back to life as a traditional pub where there’s always a warm welcome and customers are known by name. It’s been much missed; everyone I’ve spoken to can’t wait for it to reopen.”

Comments Star Pubs area manager for Winchester, Jade Bowman: “We’re delighted to be working with Katie to reopen such a prominent Winchester pub. Her knowledge of the city and extensive hospitality experience, combined with a major refurbishment, are just what’s required to get the First In Last Out thriving again. From great food and drink to sports and activities, there’ll be lots of reasons to visit, with something for everyone. It will be a hub of the community, with a focus on quality and service that attracts people from across Winchester and the wider area, too.”