Canalside tavern reopening 'really heartwarming'

The new owners of a "bit of an institution" hotel in a small Lancashire village have described the reaction to its reopening as "heartwarming".

Guy's Thatched Hamlet, a tavern hotel in Bilsborrow, has been bought out of administration by James' Places.

Commercial director Warren Bennett said the community reaction to its reopening had been "really heartwarming, and we did expect it, because it's an iconic site, not just for locals for in and around the Bilsborrow area but regionally".

The canalside venue, which has been operating near Garstang for nearly 50 years, closed in February due to financial difficulties.

Guy's was run by the Wilkinson family for more than three decades before it went into administration.

Built in the 1980s on a site occupied since the 17th Century, it features the thatched-roofed Owd Nell's Tavern, a restaurant and a 65-room hotel.

Guy's used to be a popular location for several festivals, most notably the four-day Oyster Festival.

James' Places, which also owns Holmes Mill and Clitheroe-based Bowland Brewery, reopened the hamlet within 13 days of completing its purchase.

"We concentrated on cellar equipment, a new bar, a deep clean," said Bennett.

The group also increased the outside space by the canal, and will be starting to replace its famous thatch next week.

"Everyone will surely have a pint while watching thatching going on," Bennett suggested.

Ian Barber stopped for lunch at the pub with his friend Andy Clement during their trip paddling the length of the Lancaster canal.

Barber said locals were "really chuffed that someone is paying attention to [Guy's], investing in it and bringing it back to life."

He said many had feared the "bit of an institution of a location" would never reopen.

On a nearby table Alan and Margaret Child, who moved to nearby Garstang in the 1980s, said they could remember the opening of Owd Nells pub as part of the hamlet.

Alan Child believes the new owners have to spend a lot of money on refurbishing the site.

"I wouldn't like to be the one paying the bills to get it back to what it used to be," he said.

Bennett said he eventually wanted to hold weddings at Guy's.

"So many people do meet here, and get engaged here, so it feels natural that we want to hold weddings," he explained.

The commercial director said Guy's had "the softest of soft launches" - the pub "just literally opened the doors on a Tuesday night", the same day he collected its alcohol licences.

Four Italian chefs who worked at Guy's a decade ago turned up, he said.

"They got a sniff that we might be open," added Bennett.

"People have brought their kids here, and then when they grow up, they want to bring their kids here."

Bennett admitted, however, that the current economic climate was very tough.

"Guy's has been on our list for some time but... 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 he said "the offer to buy the pub within the 17th Century complex was something the firm "couldn't let go".

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