£½m refurbishment for landmark pub

WORK has begun on a £490,000 refurbishment of a landmark pub in Lydiate.

The Weld Blundell will be operated by Heineken owned Star Pubs & Bars and the pub’s new landlord, Mike Reeve, following a 15-month closure.

The expenditure is part of a £4.6m investment Star Pubs & Bars announced it plans to make in its 192 North West pubs in 2017.

With competition for leisure spending increasing, Star believes pubs need to adapt to changing consumer demands.

Its investment is focused on creating local pubs, introducing food and coffee, for the whole community.

The refurbishment at The Weld Blundell will transform the tired, dated building into a modern pub, serving fresh cooked food for the first time in many years.

Work is expected to take two months with the pub scheduled to open in early October and creating 15 jobs.

Mike was brought up in Maghull and Lydiate and has family in the area.

He said: “I’ve known the pub for 30 years. It made me sad to see it boarded up when I drove past.

“I was hooked when I found out a refurbishment was planned.

“I want to create a comfortable, welcoming village pub where people can meet and enjoy a drink or a meal.”

Outside work will include improving the car park, repainting the pub and replanting.

Disabled access will be added with a new side entrance from the car park.

The rear garden will be landscaped and enclosed, making it safe for children.

A patio will also be laid for al fresco eating and drinking.

Mike said: “The pub has such a prominent position in the village on the A5147, it needs to look its very best.”

Inside, it will be completely refurbished and redecorated including new toilets and a new open-plan kitchen.

The public bar will be retained and its fireplace restored and a dining area with views over the garden and capacity for fifty customers will be built at the rear.

Lawson Mountstevens, managing director of Star Pubs & Bars, said: “Vibrant pubs are an affordable, fun place where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together.”

And he added: “We’re investing £20m this year around the country in pubs like The Weld Blundell to help them deliver excellent quality and thrive in their role at the heart of their communities.”