A PUB chain has taken over a new site near Burnley FC's Turf Moor ground and given it an £80,000 makeover.

Owners of Bees Knees John Ashley and Philip James will reopen the Turf Hotel in Yorkshire Street, Burnley, when lockdown restrictions end.

It sees the expansion of the Bees Knees brand to 10 pubs including three in Burnley and others in Blackburn, Accrington and Rawtenstall.

James said: "We bought the business in February and have been working during the lockdown to get it ready and we will have spent between £80-90k on it.

"It has needed a bit of investment. There is the Vintage Clarets pub nearby which has had money invested in it so we felt that we had to bring it back up to standard.

"It is really popular on Burnley match days. I am sure it will attract more people including local residents.

"We are Clarets fans so it is even better being so close to the ground.

"We cannot wait for some sort of normality to resume when we re-open, it will have been a long time coming."

The 31-year-old said the pandemic had has hit the pub industry very hard but they are looking at the positives.

He said: "It has been horrendous especially for mental health and there are only so many times you can go out for a walk and feel good.

"We have done well by not letting any of our staff go using the furlough scheme.

"We have managed to give all of our pubs a new lick of paint which people will notice when they come back.

"I think people will look at social things differently. They will want to go to the pub to chat to people."

Bees Knees own The Coal Yard in Burnley, and also the Bees Knees bar in Hargreaves Street."

Last year they took over the large site in Accrington which was formerly The Calder after closing the old Bees Knees in St James Street.