WEST Wight pub goers have been given a boost with the confirmation that two establishments will reopen under new management in the next few weeks.

The King's Head, Yarmouth, and the New Inn, Shalfleet, which have been closed for several months, have been taken over by two popular Island chains.

Character Inns, which owns the Bugle Coaching Inn, Yarmouth; Crab and Lobster, Bembridge; The Sun, Hulverstone and The Crown Inn, Shorwell, among others, will add the King's Head to its portfolio.

While Inns of Distinction, who have The Fishbourne Inn; The Boathouse, Seaview; The Spinnaker, Bembridge and Artisan, Ryde, take on the New Inn.

Rob Benwell, Director of Character Inns, said: "We are hoping to open around Friday, March 29. For the time being, we will give the King's Head some TLC with new furniture and bric-a-brac and get us going through the season.

"Then in November, we will close it for a refurb and afterwards make it table service, as well as changing the menus to make them more specialised with Island produce and more high end.

"Obviously we will have two pubs in Yarmouth, but the The King's Head will have a different concept to the Bugle. It's important we have three pubs open in the town."

A familiar face back at The New Inn is Martin Bullock who owned it for 22 years before leasing it out in 2017.

The award-winning pub is currently undergoing a refurb but Martin said he cannot give an opening date because he is still waiting for the gas to be reconnected.

He said: "Hopefully, it will be sooner, rather than later. Most of the work is going on the decor and making sure that, when we open, the service levels and style of food will be comparable to our other establishments.

"We have taken the lease back, which we would have preferred not to do at the time, but now we are working away we're really excited about the project."