THE Anchor Hotel has unveiled a new refurbishment following a £60,000 investment with award-winning brewer Daniel Thwaites.

Licensees Melissa and Lance Montgommery headed up the operation to make the pub more accessible to families and older members of the community while also giving the pub a revamp.

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Mrs Montgommery, who previously worked at The George on Blackburn Road, said making changes to the beer garden had also been a vital part of the development.

She said: “We wanted to develop a more fun and sociable outside area for children and adults alike. We’ve added an impressive eight by 10 foot chess board, an outdoor pool table and a flat screen TV for our avid sporting fans. Overall, Lance and I couldn’t be happier with the refurb and the positive feedback and appreciation we’ve received from our customers has been wonderful.”

The pub on Blackburn Road has a colourful history with regards to its look, which has included being named as one of the most terrifying pubs in Britain during Hallowe’en last year, when they gave the place a spine-chilling makeover.

Mr Montgommery said the pub’s appearance had always been very important and said: “We have always had a lot of pride in our pub’s appearance, making decorative changes almost every year.

“Melissa and I have noticed that our regular clientele has become more varied over the last few years and we now see many more young families, as well as older and less-abled customers from the local nursing homes coming through our doors. So we made it our aim to become as accommodating as possible to these groups of people.”

The Anchor now boasts a disabled toilet with baby changing facilities as well as a flat level access at all entrances and wider doorways to make access easier for wheelchair users.

Andrew Buchanan, director of pup operations for Thwaites, said: “Lance and Melissa have done a fantastic job in recognising a need among their customers and successfully rectifying it.

“Their attention to detail and the amount of pride they have in creating the best facilities they can for their patrons is thoroughly appreciated and we are proud to have them as part of the Thwaites family.”