A pub in Teddington, which closed two years ago has reopened today (Friday, 5 December).

The Lion, which is located on Wick Road, was sold earlier this year to fifteen local investors who bought the pub from pub chain Stonegate Group.

Among the community consortium is local friends ,Peter Scott and Gareth Coady.

Speaking about the purchase, Scott told Teddington Nub News: "I live close to the pub and had just moved to the area when it shut.

"I was really disappointed about this and so looked at various options to buy it, but I couldn't make it work."

15 locals bought the pub (Credit: The Lion)

Scott explained that he then met Coady and other likeminded people who were also interested in buying the pub.

Thus, the group got the community together and held a "town hall-like" meeting at Sacred Heart School and came up with a plan to purchase the pub.

The community consortium then bought the freehold from Stonegate and have spent some time refurbishing it.

The Lion has had a refurb (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

"It was a real community effort," Scott said of the refurb.

"We had Estelle Buckland as our designer and Oliver Bell as our lead contractor. Both are from Teddington."

He explained that the roofer was local as well.

The pub's exterior has had a complete refurbishment with fresh paint and a polished sign.

The pub has new furniture (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

The interior is sparkly clean and new looking with new furniture and even has a Christmas tree for the festive season.

AChristmas tree has been put up (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

The pub boasts a large front seating area and a fully stocked bar as soon as you walk in.

It also has more seats to the rear as well as a back dining area giving a more restaurant feel and a lovely large beer garden too.

The Lion's bar is fully stocked for toniht's opening (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

Opening at 11am on Friday, the pub already saw some punters flocking in to check out the "new" pub.

Some even ordered food off The Lion's new menu.

The Lion is open for walk ins this Sunday and Monday and will be available for bookings from Monday, 8 December.

While the pub will only be offering food from its usual menu this weekend, it will start offering Sunday roasts from next Sunday (14 December).

The Lion has a lovely beer garden out back (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

To celebrate its reopening, The Lion will be welcoming local school children and their teachers to enjoy some party food in the new venue at 4.30pm.

As the local Rotary Club's Santa Parade will be passing by on Wick Road, the pub hopes that Santa will pop in to meet the children.

From 6pm today, the pub will be hosting a grand opening party with canapes and prosecco.

The Lion is hoping that Santa will take a seat at the fireplace this afternoon (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

Speaking about the reopening, Scott said: "We are thrilled to be able to reopen this local institution and can't wait to welcome both the local and wider community tonight and in the future.

"We believe that pubs are critically important to communities and we are delighted to bring this to the Teddington community."

To promote its reopening, The Lion also set up stall at last week's Christmas Lights Up event in Teddington, showcasing the various drinks it has to offer.