Portchester pub welcomes new landlord and his seven children with £300,000 revamp

Scott Armstrong, 28, has moved from managing the bar at Havant and Waterlooville Football Club to run the Wicor Mill, in White Hart Lane road, Portchester.

The refurbishment has included a new garden pergola and outside seating area, as well as ongoing changes to the kitchen to accommodate a family menu.

Scott said the investment was helping to change the Heineken-owned pub’s ‘reputation for being a young man’s sports bar.’

He said: ‘We want to run a good community, family-focused pub.’

Scott and his wife, Chloe, found the move ‘a little rushed,’ as the couple juggled Scott’s last day at the club bar, his attendance at a training day in Liverpool, and Chloe giving birth – all within the space of three days.

Scott added: ‘It was a big decision to move, but you could see that Chloe was okay with it – and the children love it here.’

The couple are joined by their five children, with youngest Henley aged 12 weeks, as well as Scott’s son and daughter from a previous relationship visiting at weekends.

Scott is hoping to fit a children’s play area, patio heaters and a television in the seating area outside later in the year.

He said: ‘We’re going to keep improving the pub however we can.’

The pub will be supporting The Ickle Pickles Children’s Charity throughout the year.