"Can’t wait to open the doors" - Whalley pub to undergo £250k refurb with new food options
The pub is under new management for the first time in 34 years.
A much-loved Whalley pub is set for a £250,000 upgrade to enable it to reopen and thrive for the long term.
The investment in The Dog Inn on King Street is being carried out by Heineken-owned Star Pubs and new publican and Whalley resident, Lee McLoughlin. The refurbishment follows the retirement of the pub’s previous licensee in early June after 34 years at the helm.
Work starts on June 22 and The Dog Inn is expected to reopen around mid-July. Star Pubs say the project will carefully renovate the exterior of the beautiful old pub – which is believed to date back 250 years – enhancing the centre of the village. The rear garden will have a new lease of life, too, with smart furniture, festoon lighting and a revamped covered pergola for year-round use.
The interior décor will incorporate heritage colours and preserve distinctive features like the snugs, fireplaces and old bar, alongside new soft furnishings, flooring and classic dark wood furniture. Local sports enthusiasts will benefit from a brand-new pool table and enhanced darts in the games room. In addition, discreetly positioned screens and Sky TV will be installed, enabling people to gather together to watch major tournaments such as the World Cup and Wimbledon.
Other improvements include replacing the toilets and refitting the kitchen with all-new equipment.
Lee is looking to retain The Dog Inn’s reputation for great beer and drinks. To that end, he is undertaking an overhaul of the cellar, putting in state-of-the-art dispense equipment and new cask lines to deliver consistently perfect pints. Six cask ales will adorn the bar along with numerous draught beers, and there will be additions to the wine menu as well as good quality coffee.
Food changes
On the food front, customers can look forward to the same popular choice of freshly prepared pub classics – including customer favourites like homemade cheese and onion pies and meat pies. Dishes will use locally-sourced ingredients where possible and Sunday roasts will be a specialty. Lee will also ring in changes, introducing new specials and a children’s menu, and extending the hours that food is served from 12pm to 2pm to 12pm to 4pm.
Lee said: “The previous publican did an amazing job over the last three and a half decades. I want to pick up the baton and do all I can to ensure The Dog Inn remains an asset to Whalley and a hub of the village. We’re taking the opportunity to refresh it, but everything will be in keeping with the building and its unique feel.
“We’ll be carrying on The Dog Inn’s many well-supported activities, from open-mic nights to the annual Burns Night celebration. The majority of the team is staying, so there will be lots of friendly familiar faces to welcome people back. We can’t wait to open the doors.”
Star Pubs’ area manager Chris Newsham said: “We’re delighted to be joining forces with Lee to invest in keeping The Dog Inn as a fantastic traditional pub for the village and visitors to the area alike to enjoy. Lee has big boots to fill but is just the person for the job. He has many years of experience in hospitality, and as a local resident understands just what the community wants.”