A PUB has closed for a six-figure refurbishment which will see major renovations carried out ahead of a “summer of sport”.

Scaffolding was put in place surrounding the Inn on the Green, in Mountnessing Road, Billericay this week as the month-long work began.

The brewery behind the pub, Greene King, revealed the work is taking place to prepare for a summer of sport including England’s Euro 2024 campaign and the summer Olympics.

The pub will re-open on June 14.

Billericay Town Council councillor Jim Devlin believes any investment in Billericay and its pubs is welcome, particularly as the Inn on the Green is “too large to be a local but too small to be a sports bar.”

He said: “I used to work for the brewery, and I left before they opened it. They picked it up from when it was called the Pilgrim.

“They picked it up from a difficult position as well.

“It is not big enough to turn into a eatery or sports bar but it is a bit big to be a local.

“To see some investment is quite good.”

Mr Devlin added that the model for making a pub of this venue work is the Downham Arms in Wickford’s London Road – which balances the size it is with the sports coverage it offers.

“Greene King have another similar pub in Wickford, the Downham Arms which is an eatery and drinking sports spot, and it works as a ‘comedian bar’ it changes the way it operates at certain times in the day,” he add.

“They also tried to bring in lunchtime and evening trade for sports with TVs and hopefully they will do that, which will be great stuff for locals as it is in a residential area.

“Ultimately, I just welcome the investment in the pub, it needs it and hopefully people will benefit from it, I am pleased to hear of the refurbishment.”

A spokesman said: “The pub will reopen its doors to the public on Friday June 14, following the completion of major renovations, just in time for an exciting summer of sport.”