THE Antelope is now expected to relaunch next week after the pub “required a little bit more work” before it could be reopened to the public.

Enterprise Inns told the BFP today that it now hopes to open the doors to the pub in Church Square in High Wycombe “early next week”.

It said the historic watering hole “required a little bit more work” before punters could enjoy a drink in the Grade II Listed building once again.

The pub was initially closed in January by then publican Dave Burr, who cited high rates and the lack of a nightclub in the town as the main reasons for the pub’s demise.

But as the Free Press reported last week, Jim Anderson has been installed as the new publican on a ‘medium-term’ deal, with Enterprise vowing to invest and improve The Antelope if a long-term publican can be found.

Mr Anderson, 49, has 12 years in the trade and moves into the town centre following a short term at the helm of The Downley Donkey.

He had been at the Donkey for only a matter of weeks when Enterprise told him to close ahead of a proposed conversion into a Morrisons store.