One of Hitchin's best-known pubs has reopened its doors following a major £600,000 refurbishment — and marked the occasion by celebrating a local volunteer who has helped save lives across the town.

The Radcliffe Arms officially reopened on Wednesday 1 April after a full transformation throughout March, with the relaunch centred around the theme of community and local people.

To mark the reopening, the pub held a social media competition inviting people to nominate a "Local Hero" to cut the ribbon. The winner, Maggie Brooker Hackney, was recognised for her volunteer work helping install life-saving defibrillator kits in and around Hitchin.

As well as officially reopening the pub as VIP guest, Maggie was also awarded a voucher giving her free pizza for a year. She attended the reopening with family, with the event highlighting what the refurbishment aimed to achieve — bringing family and community together.

Major changes inside and out

The refurbishment was shaped in part by feedback from local customers, with a focus on improving the overall experience while keeping the pub's character.

Key changes include:

• A new garden room with a retractable roof for summer use
• A new interactive darts area
• A refreshed interior layout
• A relocated pizza oven as part of an upgraded dining offer
• A brand-new menu launched for the reopening

The Radcliffe Arms is well known locally for its regular events, food and drink offers, and as a popular meeting place for families, friends and after-work drinks. The pub has confirmed that its popular weekly events and deals have now returned following the refurbishment.

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Jamie Philcox, General Manager at The Radcliffe Arms, said: "The Radcliffe Arms has always been an important part of the local community. This refurbishment has focused on making the pub even better for our customers — improving the space and the experience, especially outdoors, while enhancing the character and atmosphere. The project shows real belief in the team, the pub and the community. We're really looking forward to welcoming everyone back and showing them what we've been working on."

Investment in historic Hitchin pub

The Radcliffe Arms is owned by Wells & Co, a fifth-generation family-owned business founded in 1876, which operates more than 200 pubs across the UK and France. The company is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, and says continued investment reflects confidence in the future of community pubs.

The newly refurbished Radcliffe Arms is now open to customers, with both regulars and new visitors invited to experience the updated pub.