9:40pm Wednesday 30th July 2008
By Ben Briggs
A PUB is opening its doors for the first time in 18 months after two regulars took it over, bucking the trend of pub closures throughout East Lancashire.
Uncle Jack’s, Branch Road, Lower Darwen, reopens tomorrow under the ownership of Terry Whalley, 66, and Steve Shread, 49.
Terry, a former managing director of Blackburn manufacturing company Apeks Marine, spent much of the past 25 years on the corner of the bar but now he's moved over to become the landlord.
Friend and business partner, Steve, is head of Academy print and the pair will take over following a £200,000 refurbishment of the pub by brewery giant Scottish and Newcastle.
The refurbishment comes after a recent report by The British Beer and Pub Association which revealed that 107 million fewer pints were sold in April to June this year than at the same time last year.
Terry said: “I realise it’s a gamble but the pub was always the centre of the village and it was heartbreaking to see it closed and boarded up.
“Everyone in the village is right behind us. We want to hear what villagers want from their local and we’ll do our best to give it to them.” Steve said that even though neither of them had any experience in the pub trade they were determined to get Uncle Jack’s back to its former glory.
He said: “It’s such a shame that the pub has been closed for so long. We want to bring back a modern pub for people who want to watch sport in a relaxed setting. With all the news telling us how many pubs are shutting I think people still want and need a good pub to go to. I think people still need a friendly place to go and talk and not feel alienated.
“We know a lot of people in Lower Darwen crying out for it to be opened again.”
The friends, who first met at Uncle Jack’s 14 years ago, are both from Lower Darwen.
The refurbishment has seen the installation of six plasma screen televisions throughout the pub as well as a large smoking shelter at the back and even an outdoor TV screen.
Steve added: “Terry is the landlord and I will help out as much as I can. We will be there every night and Terry will be a landlord who will regularly be seen behind the bar.”
The grand reopening of Uncle Jack’s is at 4pm tomorrow.
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