The Bishops Mill welcomed regulars back today (Friday 5 April), a little more than a year after it was closed while police investigated the Novichok poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
The pair were found unconscious on a bench close to the pub in the city centre on 4 March 2018.
Pubco Greene King renovated the building after the Government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) completed decontamination work in the summer.
The pubco would not reveal the exact cost of the refurbishment but said it was a six-figure sum.
It was reopened by the city and councillor Mike Osment in a ribbon-cutting ceremony, alongside environment minister Therese Coffey and the pub’s general manager Emma Dodge.
Formerly known as the Mill, the pub was reopened under its original name the Bishops Mill.
Tough time
Pub boss Dodge spoke of her excitement of welcoming locals directly impacted by the nerve agent attack for a free meal at the pub's soft launch earlier this week.
She said: “This has been a tough time for our city and it was great to show our appreciation for some of the people who have been directly impacted by events of the past year.
"It’s amazing to see the new-look pub after its investment and the transformation and we’re now looking forward to putting a great venue back at the heart of Salisbury.
“This has been a tough time for everyone involved and we hope our improvements help give the pub, the city and the wider community a welcome boost for the months and years ahead.”
Work on the building started in February after the pubco was given planning consent in January.
Environment minister Therese Coffey added that she was delighted to reopen the pub.
She said: “Salisbury and the surrounding area have shown incredible resilience since March last year, and today’s event marks another really important milestone in its return to normality.
“The Government remains committed to supporting Salisbury as it gets back to business, and I look forward to seeing both the pub and the city thrive as its economic recovery continues.”