Tavern hotel 'could reopen in weeks'

A tavern hotel in Lancashire which has been a staple of the community for nearly 50 years, could reopen within "weeks", its new buyers confirmed.

Guy's Thatched Hamlet in Bilsborrow, near Garstang, closed in February due to financial difficulties but has since been bought by Bowland Inns & Hotels Ltd, the team behind Clitheroe-based Bowland Brewery.

Guy's, which was run by the Wilkinson family for over three decades, is a popular destination for residents and boaters alike, with it being situated along the Lancaster River.

Bowland Brewery's Warren Bennett said the major refurbishment had already begun, adding: "We're going to do as much as we can in the shortest amount of time."

The site, which was built in the 1980s and constructed around the 17th Century, thatched-roofed Owd Nell's Tavern, consists of a pub, restaurant and 65-room hotel.

Bennett, whose company also runs the Holmes Mill beer hall and wedding venue, told BBC Radio Lancashire, securing a deal for its transition had been a "challenge".

Planned work would seek to restore the outside area, he said, along with "really basic stuff" like fixing the roof and electricals, before doing "a big clean".

A new cellar was recently installed, because "having a good quality pint is first and foremost what we're about", Bennett added.

In its near 50-year history, Guy's also became a popular location for several festivals, most notably the four-day Oyster Festival.

Bennett confirmed the festival, along with others and the prospect of hosting weddings there were all on the cards once the site reopened.

Bennett said: "You hear stories of first dates or engagements [at the tavern] , so it only feels right that we provide weddings as well.

"Plans will be unveiled over the coming months but we're looking at weeks, not months [for opening]".

The move comes at a time when several parts of the hospitality sector have expressed shrinking profits and customers thinking twice about going out amidst the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

Bennett admitted buying the property was odd timing in the current climate.

"Guy's has been on our list for some time but timing wise, you could say it's very strange timing to go and spend a significant amount of money on an asset that needs significant work," he said.

But although this was "the hardest time" for the hospitality sector, the offer to buy the pub within the 17th Century complex was something the firm "couldn't let go", he said.

In a statement following it's closure, the Wilkinson Family said: "The hamlet has meant a great deal to many people, and as it moves through a period of transition, our focus is on bringing this chapter to a close."

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