By Thom Kennedy

Last updated at 14:16, Monday, 02 February 2009

A major refit of a historic pub has been recognised with a nomination for a national award.

Inside the George and Dragon

The George and Dragon in Clifton, near Penrith, was taken over last April and closed for refurbishment.

In the process its owner, Charles Lowther, completely changed the interior of the pub, and the success of his development has now been shortlisted for the Pub Design of the Year Award 2009, which is run by industry magazine The Publican.

Mr Lowther said: “It is a massive boost for us, as they are the biggest industry awards.

“Obviously we wanted to do the pub to the best possible standards, and it’s been a labour of love to get to where we are now.”

Judges on the award, including a reporter from the Publican, came to the 200 year old pub and looked round the newly designed premises before it was selected for the finals from a shortlist of 70 pubs throughout Great Britain.

Clifton Moor, close to the village, was the site of the last battle to be fought on English soil when the Jacobites invaded England in 1745.

In July, during the renovation, the villages’ connection to that historic event was underlined when the pub’s new owners found they had the remains of a dozen rebel invaders buried in the garden.

Since the refit was completed in September, the pub has gone back to connecting with the local area.

Mr Lowther, a farmer for the last five years, takes all the food served in the pub from a 20 mile radius.

He added: “We did a few evenings to welcome people, and a Christmas evening where we gave a free meal to say welcome and happy Christmas.”

First published at 11:28, Monday, 02 February 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk