Breakers Ten Pin Bowl and Snooker Centre in Bridge Street, Andover will be reopening in July - 18 months after a devastating fire ripped through the building.

The fire in January 2002 destroyed the entire building and took four hours to get under control. A subsequent investigation found the blaze had started in the building's control room which contained a lot of electrical equipment.

It has cost £750,000 to refurbish the building.

There will be eight bowling lanes, seven American pool tables, games machines, a large bar serving fast-food, a dancing area and new facilities for children's parties. A new state-of-the-art score screen with animated graphics has been fitted which will enable different types of bowling games to be played.

Director Peter Richards said: "It is exactly what was there before but modernised.

"We are building another fire exit so that we can increase our numbers but maintain the safety of the public."

The club used to have over 9,000 members who have been eagerly waiting for the club to reopen.

Those who had a membership at the time of the fire can sign up for another year and get one year free.

Breakers will be opening in the first week of July. Essential roof replacement work has taken longer than expected.