A HISTORIC Ribble Valley pub has reopened following a £350,000 refurbishment project.

The Assheton Arms in Downham was closed for ten days from Monday, January 19, ahead of the work inside the Grade II-listed building and adding extra accommodation.

The new rooms, which will be available from Sunday, March 1, are based in the village’s former Post Office and the nearby Ash Tree Cottage.

They will be available for use from Sunday, March 1.

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The 18th Century pub – which had it’s plans for a disabled toilet approved by Ribble Valley Borough Council in 2013 – was named the 2015 Good Pub County Dining Pub of the Year.

Seafood Pub Company managing director Joycelyn Neve said: “After investing in four new Seafood Pub Company sites last year, we felt that the time was right to freshen things up at the Assheton Arms.

“Any work we carry out on the Assheton Arms requires careful planning because Downham is a conservation village.

“However, we have updated all of the fixtures and fittings and made some changes to the layout.

“The new look means that we have created more space for diners and the customers who just want to have a drink in the bar.

“We are delighted with the transformation and we cannot wait to show it off to our regulars and new customers alike.

“The closure for the refurbishment also gave us the opportunity to start work on the 12 en-suite rooms that we will be opening in March.

“Downham and the surrounding areas have so much to offer to tourists from across the whole of the UK.

“We think that our new accommodation will be popular with outdoor enthusiasts, families and midweek corporate customers alike.”

The pub at the top of the village, opposite St Leonard’s Church, was first used as a public house in the 19th century, when it was known as the Cross Keys.

It has also been known as the George and Dragon.

In the 1950s it was renamed the Assheton Arms in honour of Ralph Assheton’s elevation to peerage in recognition of his contribution to government during the Second World War.

He had previously served as Financial Secretary to the Treasury and was later given the peerage of Baron Clitheroe of Downham.

The Assheton Arms also been awarded the “Best Food Pub” for the North-West in the BT Sport Great British Pub Awards 2013.