Two years after being bought by St Austell Brewery and nine months after it closed for a multi-million pound renovation and restoration program, Falmouth’s iconic Chain Locker was officially re-launched last night.

While the pub has been extended and re-vamped, the historic ground-floor bar has been recreated as close to the original as possible. When it closed, the main bar was photographed and catalogued by architects and interior designers from Cardiff-based Design Management Partnership (DMP). Every item was painstakingly removed and stored so that they could be put back in place once the remedial works and additions, such as the new disabled access lift, had been completed.

As soon as construction work started, it became apparent that the building had suffered centuries of neglect prior to St Austell Brewery ownership. “Express permission had to be sought from the local authority listed building officer and English Heritage to take large sections of the building apart and rebuild them from scratch," said DMP director Steve Peacock.

On top of the extensive works in the bar, the upstairs has also been completely restored to create a fully accessible restaurant and oyster bar with private eating rooms and covered balcony area overlooking the quay. Six letting bedrooms have also been created.

“While it is fair to say this was an extremely challenging project for the entire design and construction teams, the result is a phenomenal building which will serve its purpose for many years to come," added Steve.

The additional remedial work required to make the building structurally sound was the main reason for the delayed re-opening of the pub. CAD Heritage director Sam Mayou said: “We’re immensely pleased with what has been achieved at the Chain Locker. One of our main instructions from the brewery was to ensure that we didn’t lose the look and feel of the original bar area and all of the positive feedback we have received so far tells us we got it right.

"As a team, not only have we given back to the people of Falmouth one of their most iconic drinking spots, but we have given the whole site a new lease of life for more people and future generations to enjoy.”

Examples of some the archaeology discovered during the restoration can be seen, such as the hand-painted wallpaper, a sample of which has also been sent to the British Museum for dating, while the newly discovered fireplace has been restored to become a central feature in the bar.

Tim Frampton, site agent during the remedial works, said: “I’ve been doing this kind of work for 40 years and rarely do you come across finds like these, especially in commercial buildings that traditionally get rebuilt and altered across the years.”

As the iconic pub and hotel threw its doors open for the first time since November 2016, St Austell Brewery retail director Steve Worrall said: “The potential for this site was always clear to us but I don’t think anyone could have been prepared for the sheer scale of the works needed to bring the building back to life.

"We must say a huge thank you to all the teams who have worked so hard together to make it happen and we’re immensely proud to finally be able to show off what they have achieved. We know how much the pub means to the town and the local people and the amazing response we have had so far from those who have visited the site is all the reward we need for our efforts.”

At last night's launch event, brewery estate director Adam Luck, who oversaw the purchase of the pub, praised the efforts of all those involved in bringing the project to fruition. Guest of honour was Mylor fisherman Tim Vinnicombe who performed the opening honours before presenting a photo of his boat Willie Boy which will be added to the wealth of historic souvenirs in the Chain Locker.

With new general manager Nathan Boundy at the helm, the Chain Locker is now open for food, drink and accommodation bookings.