A Papcastle pub and restaurant has a new landlady who has turned to a top chef to spruce up their menu.

Lynsey Thornthwaite has taken over at The Belle Vue Inn. She is living above the premises with her husband, Mark, crew manager at Workington fire station, and two children, Evan, six, and Grace, nine.

Lynsey previously worked as marketing manager at Lakes College and lived in Brigham.

“I haven’t got experience of running this particular type of business, although I have worked in all sorts of places, including the Groucho in London,” said Lynsey, 40.

“I wanted to have my own business and use the skills I have acquired over the years. I have fond memories of coming here in the past, before we had children.”

She is working on a new menu with chef Peter Sidwell.

She added: “I want to have a children’s menu which is like a mini version of the adult one.

“We will carry on being a traditional British pub but with Peter on board it will not be bog standard food. I really want to create a good family pub.

Lynsey, who employs 10 people, said: “The pub has been redecorated throughout. We were shut for two days, it was like DIY SOS! But we have made it a little bit more contemporary to match what we are doing with the food.

“I have been overwhelmed by the support. Regular customers and residents have all been lovely.”