IT really is a family affair at The Sunnyhurst pub in Darwen, after four related couples took over the lease.

Jeff Lawrenson and his wife, Kath, along with Jeff’s brothers Ian and Steve and their wives Janet and Val, and brother-in-law Jeff Pilling and his wife, Linda, have taken over the lease at the Tockholes Road pub.

Together the group has extensively renovated the Thwaites-owned pub and the living space above.

The pub will be run by Mr Pilling’s daughter Katie, who previously ran the English Lounge in Manchester’s popular Northern Quarter.

The four couples have set up Sunnyhurst Pub Company Ltd and have ploughed tens of thousands into the renovations, but will all be keeping their day jobs and leaving the running of the pub to Katie.

Jeff Lawrenson said that since opening last weekend, the pub had been very successful.

He said: “It has been fantastic. Our opening night was brilliant and we have been pretty full most evenings.

“We have had good feedback from our customers. We have had the regulars in and we have attracted some new customers.

“Katie is working really hard and the regulars have really taken to her.”

Mr Lawrenson said he and his brothers had been regulars at the pub for years.

He said: “Me and my brothers grew up in the Sunnyhurst area so it was always our local.

“When we heard the previous landlord was retiring we decided we wanted to club together and do it up.

“It wasn’t a lifelong dream or anything, and we certainly wouldn’t have done this with any other pub.”

Manager Katie Pilling, 26, said: “I will be living in the pub and running it as well.

“It will be a bit different from running a city bar, but it is nice to come home.”

The pub sells a variety of Thwaites’s cask ales and hosts a quiz every other Wednesday. The next quiz is on December 5.

It is hoped the kitchen will be ready to serve food in the next couple of weeks.