A PUB in Quedgeley is set for a £500,000 makeover.

The Weavers Arms, in Bristol Road, is closing on Sunday, March 14 to undergo a £500,000 refurbishment, turning it into a pub-restaurant.

The pub will be renamed The Hay Wain after John Constable's famous painting, which is based on a scene of the River Stour in Suffolk a few hundred miles from Gloucestershire.

The pub was originally called The Basket Maker when it was built and opened by Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries in 1985.

Following a refurbishment in 2001, the pub's name was changed to The Weavers Arms.

The new-look pub will open up again in April.

Gloucester City Councillor Debbie Llewellyn (Con, Quedgeley Fieldcourt) is pleased to see the pub getting a new lease of life.

She said: "I am delighted that someone is investing in the pub and I am all for anything that will benefit the community. We want a nice family pub for everyone to enjoy.

"I am slightly disappointed though that we won't have the local link with the name, it would have been nice to keep that."

Anna Mozol, vice chairman of Quedgeley Parish Council, is looking forward to seeing the pub renovated.

She said: "It is a bit run down at the moment so it is good to see someone investing in it.

"We have got The Orchard and The Harvester already in Quedgeley but it's great news that we are getting a similar business, they bring people into the area.

"I don't know where they got the new name from though. It's called the Weavers because of the local link with a basket maker, but I've never heard of The Hay Wain."

Residents' opinions on the new name varied.

Dave Summerhayes, of Waterwells estate, said: "It doesn't really matter what it's called at the end of the day.

"As long as it is good pub or a restaurant."

Jon Robertson, 29, from Gloucester, has been into the pub a few times in the past.

He said: "I would like to see the name kept traditional to be honest, they should just leave it as it is."

Sandra Hughes, from Quedgeley, said: "I would like to see it go back to being called The Basket Maker as it was before.

"It is great news that someone is investing in it though."

Gemma Hopwood, from Kingsway, said: "There might not be a local link with the new name but I don't think that matters.

"The area is changing and I don't see why the name should maintain a link to Quedgeley."

Karen Allen has been living in Quedgeley for 18 months. She said: "I have got no objection to the new name at all, I don't think it matters at all what it is called."

Vicky Tighe, of Quedgeley, said: "I can see why they are changing the name, a lot of new companies do don't they?"

The outgoing landlord of the Weavers Arms and pub owners Marton's declined to comment.