A DERELICT Pontypool hotel will be restored to its former glory thanks to a grant of just under £266,000.

The White Hart Hotel in George Street will be transformed over the next few months into an Italian restaurant, bar, and four bedroom bed and breakfast.

A grant of £265,950 has been awarded as part of the Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) in Pontypool town centre.

As well as injecting new life into the old building – a key site in the town centre – the project will also create four full-time and two part-time jobs.

White Hart owner Sean O’Connor, from New Inn, will also be putting in £250,000 for the work, on top of the grant he is receiving.

Mr O’Connor is also behind the successful refurbishment of the Market Tavern in Blaenavon.

He said: “It really is a fantastic building and we have big plans for the place.

“The restaurant will be run by my business partner Salvo who has run successful restaurants in Bath and Moscow.

“It’s just what Pontypool town centre needs.

“We’ve looked at old pictures of the White Hart and I really want to keep all the architectural features.

“One big change we will be working on is to improve disabled access to the building and this will include a lift for access to the upstairs accommodation.

“I’m looking at creating a quality venue with a friendly atmosphere with an emphasis on good food.

“It will be a good start to the regeneration of Pontypool.”

The £2.5 million THI project is funded by the EU’s European regional development fund, the Welsh Government’s targeted match fund, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Pontypool Regeneration Partnership and Torfaen County Borough Council.