Cyril Harrison didn't think he would ever sup another pint in The Hopgrove pub in Malton Road, but he has now ventured inside for the first time in seven years.

In 1997, the 100-year-old watering hole changed its name to the Stockton-on-the-Forest Inn, much to the consternation of local residents.

Mr Harrison, then a parish and district councillor, led an Evening Press-backed campaign to have the original name restored.

"I vowed never to go back into the place while that new name was on the front, but now that it's back to how it should be, I'm delighted to be back," said Mr Harrison, 79, who spent a week protesting outside the pub when it first changed its name.

The Evening Press gathered 500 signatures to a petition in favour of changing the name back to the Hopgrove and television crews captured Mr Harrison's sit-in protest outside the pub, as he used a loud-hailer to urge would-be drinkers to spurn the newly-christened hostelry.

Mr Harrison said it was about time the pub returned to its original moniker. Most people kept on referring to it as The Hopgrove, and taxi drivers and bus timetables knew it as that even when the name changed. It's nowhere near Stockton-on-the-Forest, anyway," he said.

Now, after seven years, The Hopgrove has been reborn and was officially re-opened today as a Toby Carvery, following a two-month refurbishment project.

"We're ready to rock and roll now. The place is looking fantastic," said manager Steve Sharples.

Mr Sharples said several people had been in touch to say how pleased they were that The Hopgrove had its old name back.

Updated: 10:14 Monday, October 18, 2004