Northern Indian food and even a roof terrace are some of the hopes for the future of an iconic town centre pub.

A West Midlands company, I Partner has opened the Royal Victoria in Maryport just days after it was boarded up and apparently permanently closed.

However, Jo Basra confirmed this week that, far from being closed, his company wanted the Royal Victoria to thrive and grow.

Mr Basra said he wanted it to continue to be a local pub for local people to the extent that customers would be consulted about what they wanted in food.

"We have to get the planning permissions for what we want to do but we would like to start providing food cooked in the Northern Indian way as soon as possible and extend it to takeaway food, too. We would like to create a sample menu and show customers for their input," he said.

He said his company believes Maryport could be an extremely popular seaside town and they wanted to be part of that.

He is also looking at opening up the accommodation in the future.

Mr Basra stressed that all these plans were in the making still but added that I Partner was determined to see the pub fulfil its potential.