A RELAUNCHED Cumbrian visitor attraction will have a double treat for its first visitors when it re-opens this weekend.

The team at The Hive at Nenthead, formerly the village’s arts and visitor centre, have spent the lockdown re-branding and are re-opening this Saturday with their very own Independence Day.

The new look includes a fresh menu in the café and a ‘holiday takeaway’ offer. If people can’t fly to their favourite summer destinations then The Hive will be preparing weekly themed specials from the US, Spain, Italy and others.

There is also a new exhibition for re-opening, featuring paintings of Alston Moor by four well-known local artists.

Works by Gillie Cawthorne, Ben Haslam, Lionel Playford and Helen Johnson will be displayed and available to buy, and there will be a ‘meet the artist’ event from 9.30am tomorrow.

The Landscapes of Alston Moor exhibition will run for four weeks to Sunday, August 2. It will be open from Thursdays to Sundays, 10am-3pm initially, and with artists attending on selected afternoons for talks.

Sandra Mackenzie, chair of Nenthead Chapel Enterprise Ltd, said: “We’re thrilled to be re-opening and looking forward to welcoming people for both the exhibition and for our new menu.

“We’ve spent a lot of time and effort ensuring we are fully compliant with new health and safety requirements and will be a safe and welcoming venue for people to enjoy as lockdown eases.”

The Hive, a former Wesleyan Methodist Church, opened last year after a £1.7m Heritage Lottery Fund grant and renovation.