A NORTH Cumbrian pub which has been closed for weeks has now been renovated and relaunched under new management.

The Bush Inn, Kirkbride, near Wigton, will be run by Steve Williams and his partner Stevan Bradley. Steve will also be the chef.

Lots of changes have been made to the interior with the bar being separated from the restaurant, as well as it being extended, fully decorated and new carpets laid. The tablets in the dining area are also all new.

The pub now has a new log burner for cold days, making it warm and cosy. The bar is fully stocked, with some new items on the menu, customers can now purchase a pint of John Smiths and choose from a selection of flavoured gins as well as real ales.

The Bush had been closed since the end of January leaving the community without a local pub.

At the open evening last Friday meals were not served but Mr Williams gave out free tasters to give customers a flavour of what could be expected.

Customers both old and new were given the opportunity to meet the staff and take a look at the changes made.

Mr Williams said: “It went really well. The place was full. Everyone enjoyed it and said how nice it was and what a change there was, that it was much brighter, and cleaner and just basically a better atmosphere.

“From what everyone has been saying, they can’t believe the change.”

Mr Williams and his partner didn’t manage the pub before the renovations. They had heard there was a possibility of it being let out but couldn’t find out who owned it.

“It was a bit of a fluke really how we ended up here,” Mr Williams explained.

“We came to see it last year because we heard it could be coming up to be let out but couldn’t find out who owned it.

“We got talking to someone in Silloth who told us who owned it and we just sent a message on Facebook and it went from there really.”

Initially, the owners wanted Steve and Stevan to rent the pub but they have come to the agreement to manage it for six months and see how it goes.

“I’m quite excited to be managing it. We’d known for a couple of weeks before we told anyone else”, added Mr Williams

“We’ve been excited about it and it’s nice to just getting back to what I like to do which is the cooking side. I prefer the cooking side.”

Steve and his partner also manage The Red Lion Pub in Aspatria so they have already built up a reputation for themselves in the area.

So far, they don’t have a large group of staff running the pub and hope to keep all employees local.

The pub is currently operating winter hours, meaning they are open from 5pm to 11pm six days a week. The pub will be closed on a Wednesday for the next two weeks while operating on a temporary license.

From May it will be open 11am to 11pm daily.

For anyone wanting to make a booking for the restaurant call 016973 98001.