WITH the New Inn at Claines having just re-opened following a refurbishment it seemed an apt time to revisit the establishment and see what has changed.

Friday lunchtime was rainy and miserable but the pub, in Ombersley Road near the Co-op store, was quite full and cheery, many people appeared to be regulars, on first name terms with the staff.

A fruity sits right in the doorway and the decor is bright , fresh and welcoming.

At the bar a man joked he wanted a kebab and was told it was too early for that. Another, presumably also a regular, finished his drink and then said his goodbyes as his bus was due.

There was a chaired off area at one side, which the barmaid told me was reserved for a wake later in the afternoon, so instead I sat over by the dartboard and the toilets. It was a nice spot but I could hear the hand-drier even with the door shut.

On the wall, a large picture of King Kong straddling a bottle of Worcester’s own Lea and Perrins sauce looked over me, while a TV overhead was playing Sky Sports News.

I don’t have Sky TV in my flat but sitting there reminded me of my teenage years when I’d run on a treadmill after school at my parents’ home while watching the likes of Jim White and Natalie Sawyer present the latest goings on in the world of football.

Now both of course on talkSPORT mid-morning, perhaps even while I was there at the New Inn. The irony.

Apparently, Sky was installed as part of the refurbishment, as was an extended seating area.

Being able to show live sports will certainly draw in the crowds, especially on a weekend, but it is sad in some ways that pubs need something like that to get people through the doors.

There’s plenty to choose from on the menu, from the Yorkshire Stack to the Piquillo Pepper Paella, but I was in need of a burger or the like.

The Fisherman’s Feast was tempting, with its half a fish fillet battered in-house using an ale of the day, as well as grilled salmon, pepper skewers, and crispy wholetails of Whitby scampi.

I’m sure every fisherman from Penzance to Diglis Dock to Loch Ness would be proud of such a feast.

But it was the burgers that ultimately won me over and there’s nine to choose from, all under 600 calories.

The Chicken & Chorizo burger consists of a roasted chicken fillet topped with melted Butler’s Secret Cheddar, a chorizo pinwheel, sour cream and crispy onions.

It came with no less than 18 thick oven chips, which I doused in tangy Aspall Golden Malt Vinegar, and some delicious homemade coleslaw.

At a nearby table a man with a pony-tail and closely shaved sides appeared to be on a date with a woman.

The burger was very filling, the chicken had been cooked well though was still moist and the chorizo was not too firm and had a kick. I went for the regular at £7.95, though an XL version is available at £9.45.

Another thing to note is the size of the New Inn’s car park. It was big, particularly for a pub of that size.