I was a little bit gutted when the Cooper Rose on Albion Place, Sunderland, announced that they were closing their doors for renovation works last March.
It is a classic go-to for my friends and I for a quick meal or light social drinks.
After all, it had everything you could ever want in a pub - cheep beverages, a vast selection of food on the menu, and a cosy and quaint atmosphere despite it being constantly busy from open until close.
And I was even more disappointed to find out that they would be pushing back their re-opening due to ongoing works relating to the installation of a new roof-top terrace - no doubt it would be great and all, but I missed my local and couldn't wait to get back inside with friends and family alike.
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After ten massively anticipated months of waiting, the Cooper (as locals call it) finally re-opened its doors to the public on Sunday - and I wasted no time in heading for the town curiously to see what changes had been made, and of course if it was worth the wait.
Immediately upon arrival, you can tell that the Wetherspoon's has had an uplift - with a new metal railing installed below its big wide-open glass windows.
You could see that the establishment was very busy from the outside looking in, as expected considering the anticipation of its re-opening from residents across Wearside.
Stepping through the big old double doors, it was good to be back - and although at a first glance you can't really tell a huge difference in design and structure, there were definitely changes that had been made.
The first thing I noticed was that the 'iconic' white light-up dance floor was no more, and had been raised to accommodate room for more seating during the day. It does look a lot smarter to be completely honest, and from a practical standpoint having it all at floor level made much more sense than having to step down into an almost pit - especially during the day when extra tables would occupy the space.
Above the now raised dance floor is a magnificent skylight, which shows excellent craftsmanship from its creators.
Surrounded by mirrors spiralling up towards the glass façade, it provides stunning natural lighting during the day - brightening the once gloomy city centre pub up.
I was also shown a video by general manager Nik Chapman while I was there, which demonstrated an alluring laser and light display on a night which reflects across the mirrors - setting the scene for night owls who want to dance the night away.
The second main change that I took note of was that there is now a downstairs open plan servery for food, saving waiters various trips up and down the stairs while allowing customers to watch their food be cooked in front of them.
I went upstairs to find a seat, as the downstairs seemed to be almost fully occupied - and had a look around while I was there.
There's a magnificent glass balcony around the centre of the second floor, surrounded by adequate seating allowing punters to make the most of the views while eating or drinking. You can see the whole first floor practically from a birds eye view up above, which is brilliant for those who appreciate modern architecture.
The second thing I spotted upstairs in an instant was the new installation of a second staircase - presumably leading up to the rooftop terrace.
This is where I am told the bulk of the £2m investment has been spent, but unfortunately I wasn't able to check it out as it is still undergoing development works.
Nik did tell me, however, through that the views from above are absolutely breath-taking, and that the 3,000+ square foot space gets sun from 360 degrees, for 12 hours a day - making it a sure sun trap in the summer.
He also told me that although there's no date set in stone, the terrace will likely be up and running at some point towards the end of February - and I, alike many others, cannot wait to see what they've done with the extra space.
I found a table by the first floor food servery, which seemed to be constantly busy throughout my adventure out to the Cooper.
Staff were constantly by the food hatch, running plates out from the kitchen to tables throughout the Wetherspoons, and the orders came thick and fast and didn't let up at all.
The kitchen staff themselves had a wonderful camaraderie about them, constantly having a laugh on shift but getting the job done to a high quality standard. Their teamwork was very efficient, and it shown in the meals they dished up and sent out.
Floor and kitchen staff communication was also elite, and the two sectors worked very well to get food out piping hot, as soon as it was plated up.
The counter staff at the bar were equally as pleasant, adhering to my every desire as I ordered my meal from their new and improved menu.
They were very attentive to my needs, and asked all of the right questions throughout my ordering process - and although they didn't have the ingredients in for what I initially wanted from the menu, they recommended a well matched alternative suggestion of something as similar as possible.
In the end I decided to go for their BBQ buttermilk fried chicken burger, which came with a soft drink for a very reasonable price of £7.30.
While it's also worth noting that the establishment offer a remote ordering service through their official app, I wanted to make the most of my experience by seeing what bar staff had to offer on the day.
I didn't wait long for my food at all either, coming around 15 minutes after ordering as advised by serving staff.
As we all know, the food from Wetherspoon's branches isn't exactly Michelin Star standard, it's quick and easy pub grub for those on the move throughout the day.
It's safe to say that it wasn't exactly the most exciting chicken burger I'd ever had, but it wasn't exactly terrible. The chicken itself was pretty juicy and the condiments and accompaniments were all fresh too.
Portion sizes are very generous for the cheap price you pay while visiting the Cooper Rose, and everything on the plate is pretty flavoursome too.
I had no complaints about the food or service whatsoever, with waiters rushing over shortly after I'd finished my meal to ask how the food was and take away my empty plate from the table.
All in all, the Cooper Rose in Sunderland is a cheap and cheerful pub, providing everything you could want and more from a JD Wetherspoon establishment.
The food was decent and very reasonably priced and drinks are second-to-none in terms of pricing, with various bottles of top brand lager for 99p.
Service at the city centre staple was brilliant, and I couldn't ask for much more from the hardworking staff who strive for excellence in their craft.
The management team were very pleasant, and Nik made me feel completely at home throughout my visit, making sure I had everything I needed on the day.
The pub has undergone some serious renovation and refurbishment works, and it truly shows with the fresh and clean demeanour of the building itself.
I can't wait wait to see the rooftop terrace when it opens next month, and I'll certainly be returning for a nice cooked meal and social drinks with friends or family in the near future.
