The refurbishment of The Royal Oak on Charlton Lane is now at last complete as can be seen from this terrific photo by CAST member and local resident Dave Thomson.

The pub will reopen on Monday 12th April with plenty of room for drinking and eating outside. There are tables at the front and in the beer garden at the back with room for up to seventy people, we understand.

New owners Kevin Latta and his father Robert have spent the last few months ripping out walls, ceilings and floors and refitting the lighting. The Charlton Athletic Museum has loaned various items of memorabilia to festoon the bars. The garden has also been redesigned.

The pub will obviously be immensely popular on match days but the new owners are also aiming for local custom when there is no football. A new menu has been introduced and the pub's new kitchen will produce "quirky, niche food" according to the News Shopper.