A PENRITH businessman has achieved his ambition of saving one of the town’s pubs from closure.

Hawthorn Leisure joined forces with new manager Peter Jenkinson, and has spent £65,000 to revive what is now called The Pinny, in Burrowgate.

Peter, who also runs a local courier company, has lived in the town since he was nine, and will work with a team of four to create a relaxing atmosphere during the day, and livelier midweek nights and weekends, which will feature live music.

Peter said: “A lot of pubs in Penrith have closed, and I didn’t want to see another go the same way.

“The nightlife here when I was younger was unbelievable, but it started to go downhill, with lots of places closing. I was determined to give The Pinny a new lease of life, and have worked with Hawthorn Leisure to turn it into a nice, welcoming bar.”

It is a ‘completely new venture’ for Peter, who will run The Pinny with business partner Mark Farrell, Peter’s daughter Jorja, and a fourth team member.

Peter added: “In the past, the pub attracted older customers during the day, while a younger crowd would visit in the evenings, before going on to a nearby club.

“Now, with comfy seating, a TV and great background music, we’re looking to attract those who want to enjoy a drink while reading a newspaper or catching up with friends.

“Our central location, close to the bus station, means we’re ideally placed for people who’ve been shopping, or who want to stop off for a drink before they go home from work. We’re also close to The Warehouse, the club where people go at the end of the night.”

Formerly The Last Orders, the pub has been closed since January.

The new name comes from a wooded area on nearby Fell Lane known as The Pinfold, or ‘Pinny’, used in the past to hold stray animals until their owners paid a fine to have them released.