Darwen revamped pub all set for reopening (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Darwen revamped pub all set for reopening

1:30pm Wednesday 22nd August 2012 in News By Dan Clough, Reporter

A ONCE popular Darwen pub that has been closed for more than 18 months has been revamped and is set to reopen this week.

The Swan Hotel in Bolton Road has been taken over by the former boss of neighbouring pub The Park Hotel, on the opposite side of the road.

Matt Worden, 21, has stepped in to give the Trust Inns-owned pub a new lease of life.

And Mr Worden says he wants to get away from the image the pub had when it last closed its doors back in January last year.

He said: “It was popular before and it is good to get it back open.

“But I want to bring back the good clientele. We won’t tolerate other sorts of bad behaviour.

“Everyone is really excited and we have had good feedback. I can’t wait.”

Mr Worden has been running the bar at Darwen Cricket Club’s Birch Hall ground since being made redundant from his post at The Park earlier this year.

He ran for the Labour Party in Sudell ward in this year’s borough and town council elections.

He said: “It is good to get Whitehall going again.

“There are a lot of pubs shutting down but I want to show that with the right pubs in the right areas, with the right clientele, you can be successful.”

The pub will open to friends and locals for a preview night tomorrow before being officially opened by Darwen Town Council mayor Eileen Entwistle at 5pm on Friday.

Mr Worden said there would be one rotating real ale, starting with Hobgoblin, four lagers, three bitters and a mild.

He planned to have entertainment including bands, discos and karaoke and live football will be shown via Sky HD.

Whitehall councillor Karimeh Foster said it was good news to see the pub reopening. She said: “I don’t like to see any empty properties in our ward.

“I hope Matt will work with the community and that the customers will think about the community in Swan Street so that they are not disturbed.”