CUSTOMERS at a village pub could think they have bumped into the bar somewhere before.

Sisters Kate Kirk and Moira Mortimer, who reopened the White Bull, Gisburn, five weeks ago after it had been empty for 10 months, have completely refurbished the main part of the inn.

Customers might feel a sense of deja vu as they prop up the bar.

The antique glass and oak bar, which has been lovingly restored, once belonged to the Old Sparrow Hawk Inn, Fence, just a few miles away on the other side of Pendle Hill.

It was taken out of the Sparrow Hawk when it underwent a major refurbishment and acquired by a local man. Kate and Moira happened upon it by chance and bought the bar to replace the existing one at the Bull when it was being given a make-over.

"It was just the right shape and a far more attractive piece of furniture," explained Moira. "It really is eye-catching and fits in very well with the rest of the room."

The sister act are just about to begin work on refurbishing the pub's function room. It will take five weeks.

They have applied for planning permission to instal French doors from the room into the garden so that guests can wander in and out as they like.

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