Inside the revamped Salutation Inn near Berkeley

Among them is the Salutation Inn, fondly known as 'The Sally', at Ham near near Berkeley.

Landlord Pete Tiley knows the hardships faced by pubs during the pandemic as well as anyone. His other venture, The Butcher's Hook in Thornbury, closed permanently during lockdown - but this has allowed him to concentrate his efforts on the Sally.

"The pandemic has been immensely tough for pubs and we can see going forward things are not going to be easy," he said.

"The hard work and support we have had from our staff, our customers and the wider community throughout lockdown has inspired us to make sure we keep the pub alive as a thriving community hub.

"We're really excited for the pub to be back open and to be able to start planning events once again.

"I think the last 16 months has given us time to rejuvenate, plan a few things and we're now back, raring to go and determined to be better than ever.

"Throughout lockdown we've been incredibly busy redecorating the pub as well as repainting the entire outside and inside.

"We've also installed brand new cask and keg lines and installed new beer taps to ensure the choice and the quality of the drinks we serve is better than ever.

"Our skittles alley in particular has seen a dramatic improvement and we're now really proud of the space we've created and intend to make it available for more community events."

As well as the return of live music, the pub is bringing back it's monthly cheese club and has plans to launch a cinema club on Monday nights - complete with homemade popcorn.

Outside, pigs are being reared in preparation for homegrown ham, egg and chips to be served. Before then, the pub will be hosting mornings where people can meet and feed the pigs.

The pub is currently looking for a chef so cannot offer full hot meals at present, but a snack menu including hot local pies is being worked on.

In the garden the marquee cover is being kept up and new outdoor lighting has been installed.

Indoors, the end of table service restrictions means the pub is fully open seven days a week in the evenings and from noon at weekends.

Explaining the Covid precautions still being taken Pete said: "All of our staff will continue wearing facemasks until such a time that we think infection rates are low enough and a large enough proportion of the population are double-vaccinated.

"We are remaining cautious and are encouraging customers to wear masks inside but ultimately we are leaving it up to people's individual choice. We are also continuing to only accept card payments at the pub, as we have done since the outbreak first started and we are ensuring the inside is well ventilated."

For those not yet wishing to venture back to the pub, the Sally at Home delivery service for bag-in-box beer will be continuing. All the beer is brewed on site at the pub's own Tiley's Brewery. You can also order online from anywhere in the UK at tileysbrewery.com

Pete estimates that customers have consumed close to 10k litres of beer and more than 100kg of cheese through the home delivery service.

"The support we received from our customers has been incredible and we are so, so grateful to everyone that purchased from it.

"We are fully aware that if it weren't for them, we might not be open today."

"Our ultimate goal is to make the Sally even more deeply intertwined with the community than it was before.

"At a time when we have been locked away from our friends for so long, pubs which bring people together are so very important.

"We're excited to be back and we're coming out fighting."