A community which has been pushing for a pub to re-open in their village has had their prayers answered.
The Rum Fox will be opening today (Wednesday, March 8), in the former Buck Inn on Sawley Road, Grindleton.
The pub is owned by Bob Geldard, 36, who used to be the head chef at the Duke of York in the village and the Higher Buck Inn in Waddington.
He will also be taking the reins in the kitchen at the Rum Fox which will serve a mixture of classic pub grub and an a-la-carte restaurant menu.
Bob said: "I am very excited to get back open. I used to be the head chef at the Duke of York so I know a lot of people in Grindleton already.
"Everyone is very excited for it and looking forward to seeing people I know in.
"I know the community is desperately missing a pub so it will be great to give that back to the community."
The pub will open for the first time at 4pm and Bob said it will be a ‘soft opening’ with just drinks for the first week before the kitchen will open next Tuesday.
The pub will be closed on Monday and Tuesday but will be open the rest of the week with food served on Wednesday to Saturday between 12pm and 2pm then between 5.30pm and 8.30pm.
On a Sunday, food will be served between 12pm and 5pm.
READ MORE: Ribble Valley: Buck Inn pub could reopen with new extensions
Renovations have taken place with an extension added to increase the capacity of the pub and allow the space for the restaurant.
Bob added: “It's going to be a mix of pub and restaurant.
"So the original pub - everything has been renovated and there is a big extension on the back.
"The original pub bit is still going to be a bar and a pub and out the back we have made extra space by building a terraced courtyard with a roof on it so we can use it all year round.
"The restaurant is attached to that bit at the back of the building."
The community in Grindleton have been petitioning and fundraising for years after losing both their local pubs, the Buck Inn and the Duke of York.
The group were hoping to raise enough cash to buy one of the pubs and run it as a community venture, however they have unfortunately not managed to do this.
In spite of that, not only will the group be treated to the Rum Fox, but also to another pub at the Duke of York.
Chair of the Grindleton Community Pub Group, John Halley said: “Since Grindleton ceased to have a village pub in 2018 the local community have fought hard to return a pub and restaurant to the centre of our village.
“We are delighted that the plans formulated by Bob and the Rum Fox team have come to fruition and have produced a high quality village pub and restaurant, that will sit at the heart of our village."
Cllr Kevin Horkin, who represents West Bradford and Grindleton ward, said the community is eagerly awaiting the opening.
He said: “We are absolutely delighted; this is something we have wanted for some time.
“We are thrilled we will soon have not only one but two places to choose from in the village after planning permission has been granted for the Duke of York.
“I think we are all eagerly awaiting the opening of the Rum Fox.
“Clearly a lot of money has been invested and it’s great to see that in the area during such difficult times.
“I have no doubt that the village will get behind it.”
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