The Oak Inn in Burton, Christchurch, will officially unveil and open its new Secret Garden this Sunday, May 30 after undergoing weeks of refurbishments.

The new 'Secret Garden'

Tracy and Rob Ford have been the landlords of the pub for four years.

Since that time, the pair have built a name for themselves and The Oak Inn through offering tasty, traditional pub food and a plethora of events.

Tracy said: "The first two years of running the pub were excellent. We had a great chef and offered amazing food, then lockdown came. In the last year we have been up and down and closed for most of the year.

"Like many other places, we’re starting again to rebuild. We have another great chef and we just had a really busy weekend, it’s really picked up. People are also starting to really talk about our new Secret Garden."

The Secret Garden, which can only be seen from inside the pub, offers a large, covered space, heating, lighting and music.

The new 'Secret Garden's' undercover seating area

Tracy said: "It’s called the Secret Garden as it’s hidden, and people can’t see it unless they come through the pub and go out the side entrance. Nobody knows it’s there.

"We wanted this space to predominantly be undercover, so 80 per cent of it is under a pergola. There are lots of seat benches, all of which are cushioned, new tables and chairs, and the grass hosts four oak barrels with tabletops and high stools for people to sit on. There are also picnic benches. The garden is huge.

The new 'Secret Garden' and outdoor seating

"My husband has built and made everything for the garden himself since the start of April, along with working five days a week elsewhere. He’s done the paving, building, laying of grass, sorted the music and more, it looks amazing."

The Secret Garden is not the only new arrival at The Oak Inn.

Tracy said: "We will be launching Hanging Kebabs at the weekend, but we have offered them this week and people are loving them. We have halloumi, lamb and three types of chicken. They have been really popular. The kebabs are definitely our unique selling point.

Hanging Kebabs offered at The Oak Inn

"The rest of the food we offer is very traditional; we have pub classics such as fish and chips, gammon and egg and our burgers, which are very popular. We also have specials on the board as well, we have quite a big menu."

To keep up to date with The Oak Inn, visit the pub's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BurtonTheOakInn/