A city pub will burst back into life with the promise of returning it to its traditional roots.

The Burton Arms in West Parade, Lincoln, has been bought by partners Martin Atkins and Claude Croote.

The duo have put the management of the club into the hands of Graham Bonner, who has worked with the pair for several years.

Mr Atkins has moved to the city from Retford, and having previously run pubs in locations nationwide, felt the Burton Arms was the ideal opportunity to bring him to Lincoln.

He said: "We bought the place because it looked a little run-down and thought it needed upgrading. We felt it would make a good business for the area it's in because we know its been a good local for people. We just wanted to bring it back to life. We're not even from around here, we've just done our homework on it.

"We drove past it and saw there was a sign outside, so we checked the area. Once we found out what it used to do and what it used to be, we discovered it has, apparently, always been a busy place that showed sport and had a dartboard and a pool table.

"We are going to make it everything it used to be but cleaner and better. Live music and sport are regular events in pubs now, so we will bringing that in too."

Due to open on Friday, February 17, the new owners have enlisted the help of contractors to get the premises back into action, with the emphasis on retaining many of the pub's traditional attributes.

Mr Atkins has extensive experience in the pub industry after 15 years of various management and ownership roles, and the Peterborough-born businessman is hoping to channel his passion and experience of the job into the local residents and office workers.

He said: "We have run pubs and been involved in the industry for about 15 years. We just love people and feel pubs are ideal locations for working with a wide range of folk.

"There's not many traditional pubs about now, are there? This pub's got a lounge and I can't think of any others in Lincoln that have that. We want to keep that feel and look of a community pub.

"We are looking at places like the police station next door and the council offices across the road. We are going to try to target those workers as valuable customers."

Michael Kheng, director at industry specialists Kurnia Intertrade Limited, has praised the reopening and said he was looking forward to it becoming an area hub.

"Being on West Parade, The Burton Arms is going to be a residential pub. Pubs like those are a dying breed, especially in the Lincoln area," explained Mr Kheng.

"It will become the hub of the community, the central meeting point for people where they can socialise and see friends before heading further into town perhaps.

"It's great to see a place like that opening up. We hear so many stories of pubs having to close, so any stories of places reopening is great for Lincoln."