SIX gastropubs which were rescued following the collapse of an award-winning local chain are gearing up to open their doors for the first time in more than a year.

The Seafood Pub Company went into administration last May, as the coronavirus pandemic hit and bars and restaurants were forced to cease trading – some permanently.

However earlier this year six of the company’s venues were snapped up by the Oakman Group – an operator based in the south of England, with Seafood Pub Company founder Joycelyn Neve appointed as managing director of the new north west branch of the business.

Now, the dates those gastropubs will reopen have been revealed.

The Forest at Fence with welcome people back through the doors on May 17, as will the The Fleece in Addingham.

A little while later on May 31 the Farmers Arms in Great Eccleston and the Derby Arms in Longridge will reopen.

On June 14, the last two venues, The Alma Inn in Laneshawbridge and The Fenwick in Claughton will be back open serving the public.

In an interview with the Lancashire Telegraph following her appointment as managing director of the six pubs, Ms Neve said: “Being able to pick up the phone to the old crew and let them know it was happening – the feeling of that is hard to put into words.

“The last 12 months has just been alien to anything that was my life before. My whole life was the company and it was very personal. The pubs were by babies and all the team were like family.

“When coronavirus hit we put the pubs to bed thinking we would be in lockdown for a few weeks and then we’d be back and everything would go back to normal.

“When that didn’t happen it was incredibly painful and then the process since has just been focusing on trying to get them back and to save them. They are such a part of the community and I wasn’t only dealing with my own life – it was the lives of staff and locals too.”