CHRISTMAS and New Year revellers downed almost 17,000 pints of beer and 3,000 bottles of fizz over the festive period at some of Lancashire’s busiest pubs and restaurants.

James’ Places Group, which owns Holmes Mill and Mitton Hall in Clitheroe and a number of other pubs and inns throughout the county, has reported a record-breaking climax to 2017.

The group said it showed shoppers and revellers were happy to splash out to support local food and drink producers.

Visitors to James’ Places’ 10 venues knocked back some 15,047 gin & tonics – a significant proportion of which came from Lancashire-based distillers Batch in Burnley.

And an emerging ‘shop local’ trend was also reflected in sales at Bowland Food Hall, where customers slashed their food miles and splashed out on local produce.

Eager Christmas shoppers snapped up almost 500 cheese boards and an amazing 2,119 pork pies, made by Roy Porter’s butchers in Chatburn.

In recent months, the second and third phases of the ambitious Holmes Mill development came on stream.

Bowland Food Hall opened in summer, followed by the Spinning Block Hotel, Bar and Grill in autumn.

James’ Places operations manager Andrew Bailey said: “Footfall was up significantly on last Christmas and many of our New Year’s Eve parties were sell-outs.”

“Gin sales almost doubled and Champagne sales were doubtlessly boosted by the two engagements announced at our venues over Christmas.