ONE of Pendle’s most historic and attractive buildings has undergone a key refurbishment - and extended its opening hours in celebration.
After a brief kitchen closure of just one week, the Cross Gaits Inn at Blacko also unveiled a new menu when the doors opened.
There has been a pub on the site for possibly around 1,000 years! But the current listed building has been respectfully updated with a full kitchen refit, new décor and upholstery and refurbished bar that has been returned to its very original condition.
Marking the reopening, licensee Mr Sean Evans hosted a live music night in aid of Cancer Research UK, and raised £160.
The Marston’s Pub Company venue is now home to an art exhibition from local painting group Higherford Mills Artists, organised by nationally renowned artist Joe Hesketh. The works are mostly painted monochrome depictions of life in East Lancashire but also include sculptures.
Sean has been at the Cross Gaits Inn since March and has been heavily involved in the refurbishment, despite suffering a stroke two years ago, aged just 23.
He has also overseen the development of an exciting new menu which now features seasonal favourites such as pork belly in cider and tarragon sauce, butternut squash and spinach lasagne and a variety of homemade pies.
New opening hours at the Cross Gaits Inn are from 4pm to 11pm on Monday and Tuesday, noon to midnight Wednesday to Saturday and noon to 11pm on Sunday. For beer lovers, there are five cask ales are currently available, Jennings Cumberland, Banks’s Sunbeam, Marston’s Burton Bitter, Wychwood Hobgoblin and a guest ale that changes weekly.
Sean and the whole Cross Gaits team are very excited about the reopening. He said: “We hope to welcome regular customers back to the new look pub as well as see some first time visitors. The Cross Gaits Inn is a family friendly destination for the area, with a home cooked menu to suit all tastes.”
There is also a famous sign on the outside of the pub which has been there for centuries - it says: “Good Ale To Morrow for Nothing AD1736”. It suggests you will get a beer free the next day, but when you go the next day it says its free the following day!
Anyone planning a visit to the Cross Gaits Inn can call 616312 and is encouraged to follow them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CrossGaitsInn