The Hobbit, on Bevois Valley Road, now boasts a burrow-like bar with faux round windows, a moss wall, wood paneling and leather-upholstered furniture as well as a dungeon-styled live music room after reopening following a £600,000 refurbishment.

The room has a stage, a professional sound system and space for an audience of 80. Glazed doors can be opened up, so that bands can be enjoyed by customers in the gigantic garden too.

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The fantasy theme continues outside with an enchanted forest verandah and an armoury-inspired games area sporting two pool tables. The enlarged garden has seating for 240 – including 150 seats under cover – plus new furniture, planting and festoon lighting. An outside bar – complete with draught beer and cider – and a kitchen with stone pizza ovens will serve those dining al fresco.

A new outdoor stage will enable The Hobbit to build on its reputation for music and hold festivals, comedy nights and other events for up to 500.

The investment by Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars and Southampton born-and-bred operator Jack Andrews has also created ten new jobs.

Other improvements include a cellar overhaul and the installation of state-of-the-art dispense equipment to ensure consistently perfect pints. The project has also upgraded the toilets, repainted the exterior and erected a feature entrance. A new menu of food and drink will complement the fantasy theme.

The pub’s look is the brainchild of Jack, who also operates The Shooting Star on Bevois Valley Road and The Black Phoenix on Bedford Place and took over The Hobbit in September 2019.

He said: "My plans got even bigger and better during lockdown. People are desperate for a return to normality. It’s fantastic to be welcoming them back. We're catering for pent-up demand!"

The pub’s makeover is not quite finished yet. A stables and an old-fashioned market square area are being installed in the garden.

• The Hobbit is our pub of the week. If you'd like us to feature your watering hole, click on the link below or email lorelei.reddin@dailyecho.co.uk