A former butcher turned brewer has celebrated the transformation of a landmark pub back to its real ale roots.
Milltown Brewery owner Neil Moorhouse has put the Dusty Miller in Longwood back on the drinking map after making a deal with Punch Taverns to invest £150,000 into its refurbishment.
Neil’s brews are now amongst the regional real ales now on offer on six pumps in the Gilead Road inn, which closed for three weeks to carry out the revamp.
It is the first pub that the microbrewery, which was established in 2011, has leased.
Neil and his partner Tracey Burgin, who took over its running last April, have overseen its complete redecoration, the introduction of new furniture, toilets and a snooker table and removal of the Sky TV to re-establish it primarily as a drinking pub.
Customers flocked to the new-look pub on its celebration reopening nights, which also saw Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney stop in for a pint.
Neil, who set up his brewery in 2011 and now supplies ales to 100 outlets, said that it was a ‘privilege’ to have been able to give a new lease of life to the pub.
He said: “It looks far better than I imagined it would and think that the refurbishment will help continue the pub’s legacy as a great alehouse that showcases regional breweries.
“I was a bit sceptical at first about working with Punch Taverns but the partnership is working out really well and the effort they have put into the place is great.
“We will be continuing our successful acoustic and quiz nights, whilst reinstating our dart, dominoes and pool teams.”
It marks the start of a new era for the pub, which had struggled to find permanent owners in recent years.
Punch Taverns regional director, Alan Johnson, said that although the company is a co-lease holder the day-to-day running will be taken by the couple to allow them to make decisions that have the local community at heart.
Alan, who oversees 75 pubs in the North East said: “It has been a massive investment but we are confident that Neil and Tracey are the right partners for the pub and thought that it was a golden opportunity.”
Jason McCartney said: “It’s fantastic when a local pub gains a new lease of life and I’m glad that they look set for success.”
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