AN EAST Lancashire pub is set to reopen later this month, complete with a new kitchen, fresh menu – and even an eating challenge for meat lovers.

The Griffins Head, on Burnley Road in Huncoat, has been closed for around two months.

New owner, Lee Wright, is hoping to "breathe new life" into the Thwaites Brewery establishment and restore it to the community bar it once was.

Lancashire Telegraph: Lee WrightLee Wright

Lee, from Accrington, said: “I want to bring this back as a community pub.

“My aim is to breathe new life into it with a new fresh menu and homemade food.

“My whole life, I have been surrounded by food and drink and have been head chef at several venues around Lancashire.

“I love my food and cask ales so the ideal thing for me to do was enter this pub.”

Lee, 48, said the food menu is having a revamp and is currently being finalised with something on the menu to suit all, including vegetarians and vegans.

However, they will specialise home smoked meat as well as regular pub grub.

Lee said: “The kitchen is all brand new and we have a new menu which we are just in the process of confirming.

“We are going to be like a smokehouse bar and grill, with house smoked wings, ribs and more.”

Excitingly, Lee said he is planning to set up ‘Griffins Mixed Grill Challenge’, where meat lovers attempt to polish off a mountain of meat in a bid to win a free pint and t-shirt.

Lee said: “I don’t think many businesses around here are ‘man v food’ style challenges.

“Basically, we are going to give challengers one big plate of meat with portions of everything from our menu on there.

“If you finish I will get you a free drink and  a t-shirt which says something along the lines of ‘I defeated the mixed grill challenge’.”

As well as delicious food, Lee is hoping to carry on serving cask ales, cocktails, gins, and more.   

Lancashire Telegraph: The Griffins Head, on Burnley Road in HuncoatThe Griffins Head, on Burnley Road in Huncoat

Since posting the pub’s reopening plans to Facebook, Lee said he has been overwhelmed with messages of support.

His post has reached more than 36,000 people with over 400 commenting on it.

One person said: “Looking forward to trying your food, it was one of my favourite places.”

“That's great news! Glad it's been taken over and is going to be open soon. Looking forward to visiting and wishing you all the very best in your venture,” said another.

A third person said: “Please get it back to how fantastic it was when it first opened.”

Lee said: “Since I put the post on Facebook this week, there has been massive interest.

“I didn’t expect it to get that much of a reaction. All day long, my phone was buzzing with notifications after I posted it.

“I really am looking forward to getting started.”

The Griffins Head is set to reopen on 30 May.