A DERELICT pub will be become a haven for students as it is brought back to life.

A team of two pub landlords, who both live in Darwen, have taken over the former Jubilee Pub, on Blakey Moor, Blackburn , which has been converted into a new bar, The Lemon Tree, which opened yesterday.

James and Katy Quayle, who developed Blackburn’s first micropub, The Drummer’s Arms, on King William Street, have agreed to take on the historic pub and ensure it isn’t left vacant while improvement works are undertaken.

The former Jubilee pub, which was owned by Thwaites, and has since been bought by Reel Cinema Ltd and let out, has been in need of repair for months - tiles were missing from the roof and water had been coming in for a long time causing significant damage to both the second and first floors.

The landlords, with the help of a small grant from the council as part of their wider plans for regeneration in Blakey Moor, have transformed the former pub.

The owners will be selling a variety of food and drink, including Spicy Jack, Moretti, Craft American lager and high-end gins, and hosting numerous live music events.

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Drinks will be sold at ‘pub prices’ with Fosters costing £2.80, gins from £3 and over and premium beers for around £4. James, 51, said: “Everything with this place is different.

“There’s no pool table anymore or dart board and will have more varieties of food to choose from.

“School desks are being used as tables and there’s a big leather seat to sit on which is more comfortable.

“We chose the name because it was fresh sounding and goes along with the food we are doing.

“We also hope to start a students only night soon, which will be a safe environment for the students in the area.”

Cllr Phil Riley, who is the executive member for the regeneration portfolio, said: “It’s absolutely great news because it’s being run by James and Katy who have made an amazing job of the Drummers Arms.

“They are going to put their energies into a long established pub that has been closed for some time.

“I hope they make a success out of it.”