ACTION is being taken to ensure a neglected pub will be redeveloped, it has been claimed.

Since November 2016 The Royal Foresters pub in London Road has been boarded as the then owners Greene King decided whether to refurbish it or sell it on.

A £3.8m deal to buy the pub opposite Lavender Park Golf Course was struck by luxury pub-owners Oakman Inns in December 2016.

“We have at long last finalised our thinking regarding the development,” said Peter Borg-Neal, chief executive of Oakman Inns.

“It has been quite a challenge to ensure we could create a scheme that would work commercially but stay within our understanding of the local planning guidelines.”

He added: “We are very keen to increase the number of car parking places adjoining residential areas once we have reopened.

“We feel we have a way forward, on April 10 we submitted a request for a pre-application meeting with the planners. We would then hope to have made our formal application within six to eight weeks.”

Oakman Inns has also pledged to hold a consultation period to show their plans, with members of the public invited to attend to give feedback.

No date has been set for this.

Mr Borg-Neal said: “There would be, perhaps, a private session for local councillors to visit and ask detailed questions.

"We were thinking of maybe erecting a marquee in the car park for this in May.”

When it is opened Oakman Inns operations manager, Adrian Laws, from Ascot, will be in charge.

Oakman Inns has pledged a menu with Mediterranean-inspired dishes in keeping with the establishments the chain have across Berkshire and neighbouring counties.

Despite being in its early stages, the total cost of the refurbishment is estimated at around £3.5m. 

Restoration of the original arts and crafts architecture to the southern façade, which has been an iconic landmark in the town is a top priority is on the agenda for the developers.

They also want to remove some of the modern extensions as part of the overhaul.