New start as Barrowford pub is turned into apartments (From Lancashire Telegraph)

New start as Barrowford pub is turned into apartments

11:36am Wednesday 25th January 2012 in Barrowford By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter

CHANGE The Victoria as it used to look.

WORK has started on turning the first floor of a former troubled pub into apartments.

The upper floor of the former Victoria Hotel, in Gisburn Road, Barrowford, will be turned into two one-bedroom flats.

But the ground floor will remain a pub and restaurant, with larger windows on the front.

Since being brought back into use in 2008, the venue has attracted criticism from residents who said it was a magnet for anti-social behaviour.

It was once owned by former EastEnders actor Jody Latham who reopened it as Jacks’, but it closed a year later.

It was renamed Residence in 2009 and had two further owners but continued to attract trouble and closed in the summer of 2010.

It has since been bought by East Lancashire restaurateur Kevin Berkins, who is behind the latest plans.

When the application for conversion to flats was approved, a council planning spokesman said: “The proposal involves the conversion and change of use of the upper floor to form two one-bedroomed self-contained flats.

“This would leave the remaining ground floor only for use as a bar. The flats would be accessed externally from the rear, by an existing external staircase.

“A car parking area accommodating two cars would be provided in the rear yard.”

Mr Berkins owns the acclaimed Fence Gate Inn and the Eagle at Barrow. He was unavailable for comment yesterday.