A POPULAR village pub has marked a major refurbishment with a week of celebrations.

The Tandem, in Kennington, reopened on Sunday following a six-figure makeover and now boasts a new bar area, together with improved screens to host the latest sporting events.

As well as improving the look of the pub, the refurbishment has also created 10 new jobs.

Following the formal reopening on Sunday, regulars have enjoyed a Big Quiz on Tuesday, ‘free drinks’ challenge on Wednesday, poker night on Thursday and live music on Friday.

The Tandem team will also hold a fun day tomorrow at the Kennington Road pub, including a bouncy castle and face painting – plus a disco party night.

Improvements at the bar have included the addition of contemporary tiling and an improved drinks range, with additional cask ales now available.

Guests can also enjoy their drinks in the extended beer garden which features additional seating and new outdoor lighting.

In addition to an extensive drinks collection, the new-look pub will continue to offer a range of food.

The makeover has also included nods to the past, with framed photographs highlighting the pub’s history and how it was named.

Though the current building dates back to the late 1930s, the original Tandem was built in 1770 and was for a time known as The Fish.

The Tandem received its new name due to a practice that developed in the early 19th century, where some members of Oxford University would keep horses in Kennington as they enjoyed driving a cart with the horses in tandem, one in front of the other, which was not allowed in Oxford.

Lucy Foster, who co-manages the Tandem with Ryan Shadbolt, said: “We’ve had a fantastic time celebrating the reopening and our Kennington neighbours really came out to support us.

“Our guests are at the heart of what we do, so it was great to be able to mark the reopening with the local community.

“We’ve already had great feedback on the revamped bar and the sports viewing areas, with many guests planning their next visit around the upcoming matches.

“The team and I can’t wait to welcome new and returning visitors to the Tandem very soon.”

More details about vacancies and upcoming event via Tandem on Facebook.