A PUB in Oldham has reopened after a near £100,000 facelift – and now has a new name.

The former Last Orders Now on Huddersfield Road is now called The Bear on the Hill and is welcoming back regulars and attracted new customers eager to see what changes have been made to the 183-year-old building.

The title reflects a former name, The Conquered Bear, and the fact that locals call the area "on hill".

The boozer is owned by Proper Pubs, the Operator Managed platform of Hawthorn, which owns more than 130 watering holes across England, Scotland and Wales.

Proper Pubs has invested £99,400 in the pub, which has been repainted inside and out, and now features new signage, windows, lighting, carpets and flooring. The toilets have been completely updated, while new music systems and digital advertising screens have been installed.

Tony Beswick, who started running the pub a year-and-a-half-ago, said: “We had an amazing first week open, while our first weekend saw Friday and Saturday night DJs and a private event on the Sunday.”

The pub hosts two pool teams, plans to start a darts team, and offers entertainment throughout the week and at weekends, including quizzes.

Tony also works closely with his pub community to raise funds for mental health charities, and throughout the pandemic made weekly calls on a regular customer living alone who was diagnosed with cancer, delivering food and home cooking.

The pub is aiming to raise £1,500 to install a new defibrillator in the pub and will continue to support other causes, including acting as a drop off point for anybody wishing to contribute to foodbanks.

Operations director of Proper Pubs, Matthew Gurney, said: “This is a new chapter in the pub’s history, and we’re very keen to help Tony – who’s a superb community pub operator and a true community hero – make the most of this local landmark venue with investment and work that has brought it bang up-to-date.

“So as well as redecorating and installing new equipment, we pretty much gutted the trading areas and removed its different-level, balustraded seating areas to give the pub an open plan feel.”