THE owners of a landmark inn which was devastated by fire hope it will be filled to the brim with punters once more at an official opening ceremony today.

The Cross Keys, in the High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, started welcoming back customers earlier this month ahead of the official opening, almost exactly two years after it was devastated by fire.

Following careful renovation work of the iconic Grade II-listed building, which dates back to 1742, the watering hole has been returned to its former glory.

Enterprise Inns, which owns the 273-year-old pub, has helped to foot a £500,000 bill to resurrect the haunt which became a home from home for the bereaved families of those who died in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and whose bodies were repatriated through the town until September 2011.

Enterprise Inns regional manager, Daniel Oakford, said: “This is a very important pub, one that became something of a retreat for bereaved families who wanted to be out of the spotlight after repatriation ceremonies had taken place.

“The eyes of the town have been on us since the fire two years ago, and Enterprise has worked hard to ensure the rebuilding and restoration of this iconic pub is absolutely right in every respect, and all the work carried out is in keeping with the building’s long history.”

Enterprise CEO Simon Townsend will attend the official reopening at 1pm, along with Mayor of Royal Wootton Bassett, Councillor Ian Ferries, Alistair Maxwell, the Royal British Legion Wiltshire and Somerset area manager and Bryan Kingscote, volunteer president of The Royal Wootton Bassett and District Branch of The Royal British Legion.

Also in attendance will be publicans Phil Thompson and Jonathan Pennycott who, through their company Unique Country Inns, run four other pubs, including Royal Wootton Bassett’s Prince of Wales.

They have now taken on running the Cross Keys, which has created 25 new jobs in the town.

Phil said: “We’re pleased and delighted to be playing a part in restoring this important pub to its former glory, and introducing new features and a new menu that we’re confident will attract local regulars back, and bring in tourists, too.

“And we believe we’ve treated the role the pub played in the repatriation ceremonies with dignity and respect, having dedicated a room to that part of its long history.”

Among the room’s repatriation memorabilia are photographs of RAF Lyneham, where repatriation flights arrived.

Other features include the pub’s old penny-topped bar – water damaged as fire crews tackled the blaze – which has been restored and turned into a wall hanging and a fire-damaged, smoke-blackened roof beam, now mounted in a display case.

The Cross Keys boasts two bar areas, a restaurant, function room for 60 people, large beer garden, and a fully-equipped kitchen; and will feature cask ales, quality food, and live music.