An iconic Leicester music pub is set to reopen following a £418,000 refurbishment.
The investment in The Donkey on Welford Road is being carried out by Heineken-owned Star Pubs and new publicans Ollie and Jonathan Wainright.
The pair also operate two other Leicester locals, the award-winning Cradock Arms on Knighton Road and The Clarendon on West Avenue.
The project will put The Donkey back on the map as both a pub and major music venue, complete with a new festival-themed garden.
Contractors are due to begin work at The Donkey on 3 August.
The pub is expected to reopen by mid-September, creating 20 new jobs.
Due to the scale of the works, the pub will open first, with the garden launching a few weeks later.
The outside works will renovate the exterior of the late-1800s pub, adding new signage and lighting and repainting the building.
The works will accentuate decorative features including old Ind Coope monograms and storks’ heads.
A derelict tarmacked area at the rear will be transformed into a pub garden designed for year-round use.
The space will feature its own bar, a large stage and screens.
A third of the garden will be covered by a wood-framed transparent tent with heaters, while colourful furniture, festoon lighting and planting will complete the transformation.
Inside, The Donkey will be revamped with contemporary décor designed to complement the building.
The design will incorporate timber floors, exposed brickwork and industrial-style details.
The refurbishment will also include new furniture and soft furnishings, upgraded toilets and a kitchen refit.
New booths and cosy corners will be added for groups of friends, while a log burner will support the pub’s warm and welcoming feel.
Other improvements include a new indoor stage and an upgraded cellar with state-of-the-art dispense equipment.
The food offer will centre on a street-food-style menu made from scratch on site, with dishes ranging from burgers to fried chicken.
The drinks selection will span premium lagers, freshly prepared cocktails and barista-quality coffee using beans from St Martin’s coffee roasters in Leicester.
A new programme of events will accompany The Donkey’s relaunch.
Weeknight activity will include quizzes and comedy evenings, while weekends will focus on live music across multiple genres.
Original artists and tribute bands will perform music ranging from blues and soul to rock and pop.
The pub will host touring acts from across the UK, as well as Leicestershire talent.
A high-spec professional indoor and outdoor sound and lighting system will support the live entertainment programme.
The Donkey will also support local emerging talent through open-mic nights and other opportunities designed to help performers develop their stagecraft.
Jonathan Wainright said: “The Donkey is a legendary pub; so many people – including our family – have happy memories of great gigs there.
“We’ve had our eye on it for a while, and we’re thrilled to be taking it on.
“There had been concerns for The Donkey’s future and we’ve had a terrific response to the plans to revive it – there’s lots of enthusiasm locally.
“Performance spaces are vital but are declining; we want The Donkey to be an asset to Leicester’s music scene again and a brilliant local.
“It’s in desperate need of TLC and the investment is just what’s required to get it back on its feet.
“We can’t wait to open the doors and show everyone the changes.”
Craig Foweather, Investment Manager at Star Pubs, added: “We’re delighted to be teaming up with Jonathan and Ollie to restore such a well-known pub to its former glory.
“They’ve got a track record for turning round struggling pubs and an in-depth knowledge of Leicester – they’re just the people for the job.
“Their plans for The Donkey are incredibly exciting, and the garden will be a destination in its own right.
“We’re giving The Donkey the works inside and out; it will be a premium community pub for the city’s residents as well as a superb music venue that attracts music lovers from far and wide.”