A COMMUNITY pub is to open a new restaurant with the help of five youngsters who were not in education, employment or training as front of house and kitchen staff.

The Dog Inn at Belthorn's new restaurant is the latest project of the Dog Inn Community Freehouse, the community group, which re-opened the pub in December 2015 with a newly refurbished bar.

In the last two years the group has also refurbished and opened community rooms upstairs, as well as a café and shop and volunteers are also working on community gardens.

Glen Duckett, who runs the award-winning Eagle and Child in Ramsbottom, has been helping the group to set up the restaurant.

He has drawn on his experience of setting up a social enterprise project called EAT Pennines, which aims to train and employ young people aged 16 to 24

to get the skills and experience to get a career in the food sector.

Kathryn Sharpe, community nurse by profession and Dog Inn committee secretary in her spare time, said: “We are thrilled to be beginning another new chapter for the Dog Inn with the opening of the restaurant this weekend, a result of lots of tireless work by the volunteers.

"This is a great project and it is a privilege to work alongside the team at EAT Pennines. We hope that this provides an exciting fresh start for our young team.”

Recruitment for the team at the Dog Inn began earlier this year with training for five young people aged between 20 and 24 at the Eagle and Child.

This week the new team plans to move into the new kitchens at the Dog Inn in preparation for this weekend’s opening alongside experienced chef, Tom Reddy.

Gillian Martin, from EAT Pennines, said: “I’m really proud of this group of young people.

"They haven’t had the best start in life but they have been keen to learn and develop their skills and the team at the Dog Inn have given them a challenging and rewarding opportunity.”

The Dog Inn restaurant will be open for bookings from Saturday from 6.30pm to 9pm. Call 01254 433188 for table reservations.