Keswick’s celebrity canines Max, Paddy and Harry were given the honour of officially reopening a Lake District inn.
The Temperance Inn on Ambleside’s Lake Road has undergone a multi-million-pound restoration by venue owners, The Inn Collection Group, and its doors were thrown open to guests earlier this month.
Onlookers cheered as the spaniel stars bit through a giant, ribbon-tied pig-in-blanket to officially open the inn.
Afterwards, Max, Paddy and Harry were the first to go inside the dog-friendly inn, which is the first of The Inn Collection Group’s sites to have a dedicated street food concept alongside its ‘eat, drink, sleep and explore’ pub brand.
The ‘grab and go’ service will provide take away hot and cold food for walkers and outdoor enthusiasts looking to eat on the move. There are also 85 table covers serving home-cooked pub meals.
Formerly The Churchill Inn, this historic Lakeland building — which dates back to the 1800s — has been completely transformed by The Inn Collection Group, who have twice been named Best Pub Employer in the national Publican Awards.
The interior has been remodelled to create a new bar and dining room area that embraces the street food concept, with an industrial feel, marble counters and Italian-style patina mirrors.
Each of the inn’s 27 bedrooms across the four-storey site have been refurbished, with premium rooms offering fell views.
General manager Daniel Chrisp said: “It’s the best Christmas gift to see this wonderful old building given a new lease of life and to be able to open our doors to customers again – and, of course, to have been given the paws up by Max, Paddy and Harry.
“We’re really excited about The Temperance Inn which is completely different to our sister The Inn Collection Group venues. It’s the first in the group to provide a new street food concept so customers can fuel up quickly with quality, good food and get on the go again.”
He added: “To open in time for Christmas is the icing on the cake. There’s an amazing atmosphere. The inn looks so festive and welcoming with its Christmas decorations up.
“We’re very proud of The Temperance Inn and can’t wait to welcome people in to see the transformation.”
As part of The Temperance Inn’s opening celebrations, the pub is supporting local charities Lake District Search and Rescue Association and The Lake District Foundation.
Customers are being given ‘charity chips’ with a £1 value equivalent to donate to either charity inside the inn.
The opening of The Temperance Inn has created 30 jobs, with team members benefitting from new staff rewards packages.
The Inn Collection Group now has eight pubs with rooms including The Pheasant Inn at Bassenthwaite, The Wateredge Inn, The Waterhead Inn and The Ambleside Inn.
The group also owns The Angel Inn at Bowness-on-Windermere, The Swan at Grasmere, The Pheasant Inn at Bassenthwaite and The Coniston.
