By Sue Crawford

Last updated at 11:45, Tuesday, 23 October 2012

A pub which dates back to 1578 is one of two historic Cumbrian inns taken over by a hotel and leisure company.

Boot Inn

Pennington Hotels, owners of the Pennington Arms at Ravenglass and Sella Park Hotel, Calder Bridge, have taken over the tenancy of the Boot Inn, Eskdale.

The company, run by the family who also own Muncaster Castle at Ravenglass, have also taken over the tenancy of the Pooley Bridge Inn, near Ullswater which dates back to the 19th century.

Craig Lowery, general manager of Pennington Hotels and Muncaster Castle, will oversee a revamp of the two inns.

He said: “The Boot Inn and the Pooley Bridge Inn are both historic properties that are firmly rooted within their communities.

“We intend to ensure that they retain this strong community focus, while also bringing the standard of the rooms and food up to the high quality people have come to expect from Pennington Hotels. ”

Iona Frost-Pennington, owner of Pennington Hotels, said: “The Pooley Bridge Inn allows us to take the Pennington brand into a new area for the first time and will allow us to market the western Lake District to a different audience.

“Similarly, people who are familiar with the quality experience they receive at Pennington Hotels will know they will be able to expect consistently high standards at both inns.

“Both of these properties are community institutions and we would like to work with local people, and suppliers, to make the inns fundamental in ensuring the future prosperity of the communities in which they reside.”

First published at 11:34, Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk