THWAITES are in talks with two potential landlords and hope to have The Ranken Arms open again soon.

The brewery spoke out after the Hoddlesden venue closed its doors less than a year after last changing hands.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Director of pub operations Andrew Buchanan said: “The Ranken Arms at Darwen is temporarily closed.

“We are currently in discussion with two local operators and hope to have the pub trading again very shortly.”

On Tuesday, the Lancashire Telegraph told how the pub, which hosted regular live acts, shut after putting on a free buffet of chicken tikka masala and rice and giving away drinks late last month.

It had been run by Nick Parker, who left The Dog Inn in Belthorn to take the reins last November.

Writing on the pub’s Facebook page, Mr Parker announced the pub was closing and said he was now looking for a new job.

He invited punters to “join me and help drink the place dry” ahead of his last day in the pub, on Friday, July 31.