TWO young men are hoping to breathe new life into a struggling Darwen pub after reopening on Friday night.

Local lads Roger Savage, 25, and Dan Sumner, 28, have taken over the Craven Heifer in Pole Lane after a failed relaunch following a £115,000 refurbishment in March last year.

Management duo Theresa and Niall Pollock left last year and the pub had been run by a relief manager for the past few months.

Now, Mr Savage said the future looks bright for the Star Pubs and Bars-owned inn with ‘bags of potential’.

He said: “We have closed the pub for three days while we bring in new furniture and make some slight alterations.

“We have given the place a really good clean as well so it looks good as new.”

Mr Savage, who has moved into the pub with business partner Dan, said the relaunch would see food reintroduced to the pub.

He said: “We have designed a menu with home-cooked food that launched yesterday.

“There will also be specials, such as Sunday lunches, and we will have two real ales on the bar.

“We also plan to launch an entertainment programme on Saturday nights and we will continue with the pub quiz on Thursdays.”

Both Mr Savage and Mr Sumner have worked in the hospitality management industry before, with Dan having managed The Brierfield pub in Astley Bridge.

Mr Savage said: “I don’t know why it didn’t work for the previous tenants, but we have high hopes for the Craven Heifer.

“It is a dream come true for us both really to run a pub in our home town.

“And hopefully this will be the first of many. I already have my eye on another pub and I would love to run a few different ones.”

A spokeswoman for Star Pubs and Bars said: “We are delighted that operators of Daniel and Roger’s experience have taken on the Craven Heifer, a pub in which we invested £115,000 last year transforming it from a drinkers’ pub into a family friendly, food oriented pub.

“Under their stewardship, the pub will offer good quality food and cask beer in a warm and welcoming environment.

“We wish them every success.”