It seems like a lifetime ago, yet for those who witnessed the shocking events at the Lord Arthur Lee pub in Fareham, the memories will remain vivid.

A quiet Hampshire morning was shattered in 2003 when a car, driven with malicious intent, became a weapon, tearing through the pub's entrance and wreaking havoc within its walls.

The tranquil atmosphere of the West Street establishment was violently disrupted as the car, driven by a man believed to be a disgruntled and previously barred customer, smashed through the pub doors.

The vehicle then proceeded to be used as a battering ram, reducing the once welcoming interior to a chaotic mess.

Windows shattered, the bar itself was crushed under the car's force, and furniture was tossed aside like toys.

The Cavalier, finally brought to a halt, sat parked amidst the wreckage, a stark symbol of the chaos it had unleashed.

Inside the pub, staff members were forced to dive for cover, narrowly escaping the path of the rampaging vehicle.

One bar staff member, in particular, had to scramble for safety behind the coffee machine as the car careened into the bar area.

The car's driver, seemingly intent on causing maximum damage, executed a three-point turn in the middle of the pub, further amplifying the destruction as it careened into tables, chairs, and even a structural pillar.

Miraculously, despite the scale of the damage, only a handful of customers were present in the pub at the time of the incident, which occurred around 10:20 am.

While the majority escaped unscathed, two individuals were reported to have sustained minor injuries, a small consolation in the face of such a shocking event.

Rob Chamberlain, then-area manager for J D Wetherspoons, the pub's parent company, expressed his shock and dismay at the scene of devastation.

He estimated the cost of repairs to be in the hundreds of thousands of pounds.

"I received a call informing me that there was a car in the pub," he recounted. "Initially, I assumed it was an accident, that someone had simply lost control. However, the reality was far more disturbing."

Chamberlain explained that the man believed to be responsible for the carnage had been causing trouble at the pub for several days, begging for money and drinks from patrons.

He had been asked to leave on several occasions, and on this particular morning, after being refused service yet again, he returned and threatened the staff before launching his vehicular assault.

Chamberlain praised his staff for their quick thinking and calm response under pressure, acknowledging that they were understandably shaken by the traumatic experience.

Eyewitnesses recounted their horror as they watched the events unfold. Lorraine Clements, who works at the Red Cross charity shop across the street, described the scene as "completely terrifying." She added, "It's amazing no one was seriously hurt."

The scene at the Lord Arthur Lee pub just a month later was a stark contrast to the chaos that had reigned just weeks prior.

After an extraordinary effort by contractors and staff, the pub doors reopened on June 6, welcoming back eager patrons.

Customers wasted no time in returning to their beloved watering hole; by 10 am, a crowd had already gathered outside, ready to step back into the familiar surroundings.

The last time they had seen the JD Wetherspoons establishment, a car had been parked in the middle of the bar, a symbol of the destruction it had wrought.

But, thanks to an investment of more than £300,000, the pub stood as good as new, even boasting some welcome additions.

Then-manager Joanne Harvey expressed her relief and delight at the swift transformation.

"It has been very hard work," she acknowledged, "and I think people, myself included, were surprised at how quickly the work was completed."

She added with pride, "I think it looks much better now; it looks more clean, new, and welcoming."

The pub, reborn from the ashes of chaos, was once again ready to serve its community.