AN award-winning food business has added another historic pub to its growing empire across East Lancashire.

The Seafood Pub Company has acquired the Alma Inn in Laneshaw Bridge, the 10th pub venue in the group and the seventh in the region.

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The company already owns the Assheton Arms in Downham, the Barley Mow in Barley, the Derby Arms in Longridge, the Oyster and Otter in Blackburn and the Roosters Bistro in Higham.

The Forest in Fence will also be opening in August after an extensive refurbishment.

Managing director Joycelyn Neve, who founded the business in 2010 with her dad, said she is looking forward to enhancing the Alma Inn and hosting a variety of events there.

She said: “The Alma is a fantastic and thriving business, and we’re absolutely thrilled to welcome this freehold to the Seafood Pub Company group.

“We’re not looking to make any drastic changes, we simply want to enhance and improve the wonderful business that is already in place.

“We want to reassure customers that all bookings already in the diary will still take place, with the exact team they booked them with.

“We’re really looking forward to hosting a number of weddings, functions and events, alongside the regular dining service, ensuring guests have an amazing experience all round.”

The Alma Inn is located in the Pendle countryside and was a rural coaching house originally built in 1725 with stone floors, original beams and real fires.

It also has nine en-suite bedrooms and has become increasingly popular for functions including weddings and birthdays.

It was transformed from a derelict state by Lee Duerden, who bought it nine years ago but has now decided to sell.

Damian Brierly, general manager at the Alma Inn, said: “We think it’s important to use the rooms to their full potential, creating opportunities for both leisure and corporate guests.

“All events including weddings, birthdays and the like, will still 100 per cent go ahead, with the team that customers booked with, so we’re really looking forward to hosting a number of exciting functions.

“The inn has plenty of fabulous qualities and its addition to the Seafood Pub Company group is great news.”

The group has won numerous awards including the Publican awards and Ms Neve recently won the Pub and Bar award at the Catey Awards.

The Oyster and Otter was given the prize of Best Food Pub at the Great British Pub Awards this year.