WATCH: Step inside the carefully restored Monks Bar in Old Portsmouth which will open over Easter weekend

Monks Bar, in Old Portsmouth, has a legacy of being a treasured wine bar with heaps of character.

But following its closure after Fullers acquired Gales Brewery, the building had a brief stint as a Spanish restaurant before shutting down in 2016, where it has remained vacant ever since.

Fresh management has now taken over and have high hopes for the beloved bar, which is reopening on Friday, April 3 after benefitting from a major refurbishment throughout. The careful restoration process has combined modern interior and decor, whilst maintaining the integrity of the bar when it originally operated as Monks.

Deborah Reale, who is part of the management team at Monks Bar, previously said: The interior looks amazing, it’s very smart and elegant - and we are excited to open our doors as soon as can, and welcome local people.

“People are excited to see it open again and start coming here. Monks is something different, it’s not like your usual pub.”

To celebrate the official launch, Monks will welcome a full line-up of live music performances scheduled over the Easter weekend including Craig Henderson, DJ Tony Williams and Mama Funk.