If you have any news from this year, please email ku.gro.armac.scnaltsae@swenelahctiw for it to be added.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Cheers

Alan Leach - Witch Ale news editor

July

Not in our area but had to include this. Actress Tricia Penrose, who played Gina Ward for 18 years in Heartbeat is now the co-owner of The Goathland Hotel, better known to viewers as the iconic Aidensfield Arms.

It's time for a change at the Darwen Tap as John and Julie are sailing off (not literally) into the sunset of retirement 10 year after opening the Darwen's first micropub. Now the start of a new era with Lisa and Sean at the helm who have been regulars since the pub first opened.

The Dog Inn, Whalley has reopened after the recent refurbishment.

The 1B Tap in Great Harwood celebrated their 10th Birthday with a Hog Roast and live music. Here's to the next 10 years. Also in Great Harwood, the Park Hotel has also reopened with Annie & Theo who were previously at the Thornton in Burnley taking over.

The Red Pump Inn, in Bashall Eaves has been put up for sale with the leasehold being offered for £185,000. The 275-year-old pub in Ribble Valley is currently trading as normal.

Rossendale Brewery's The Halo represented the North West, Merseyside and Cheshire area in the premium pale blond and golden ale category at Cambridge beer festival in the national finals.

The asking price for the Swan Inn in Whalley has dropped from £2 million when Vixen Pub company listed it for sale in October 2025 to a mere £1 million which will get you a 250-year-old property which also has six en-suite letting bedrooms

Not good new as the historic White Bearin Barrowford has been shut down after continuing to operate without a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS). Despite warnings from police and licensing officers the pub had continued to trade. Hopefully the situation gets resolved soon.

June

Pete and Emma have left the Royal Arms in Tocholes after 3 years but good news is new landlady and landlord Maggie and Paul have taken taken over.

We seem to have reported quite a number of times on the Holden Arms closing and reopening over the years. Well it is open once again! Hopefully the pub which located on the Grane Road near Haslingden will have a very prolonged opening this time.

After 7 and a half amazing years, time came for Lucy to say goodbye to The Shooters Arms in Nelson for a new venture. The pub closed on the last Saturday in the month and will be reopening shortly when a new team begins.

News has come through that the Megan and Lee who took over the Heys Inn in Oswaldtwistle in May have introduced real ale on the long unused hand pumps. Beers from Timothy Taylor, Lancaster, Theakston, Dark Star and Robinsons have all made an appearance in the opening weeks. They are hoping to have 3 on going forward.

The Spread Eagle in Mellor has been put up for sale by Greene King and on the market with Fleurets for £1.65m. The pub remains open and trading as usual.

The Park Hotel in Great Harwood has closed after the one of the licensees health had deteriorated over the last few years and became unable to continue running the pub. Hopefully some will take it on and it's not closed for too long.

Alan Cottam presented Phil at the Canine Club in Accrington with the Hyndburn Area and Joint Branch Club of the Year 2026 award.

Alan Cottam presented the Hyndburn Area Pub of the Year 2026 award to the Old England Forever in Clayton-le-Moors. Dave Sweeney, of Bank Top Brewery who own the pub, and bar manager Jackie collected the award.

Chris Dickinson presented the Blackburn with Darwen Club of the Year 2026 award to the Cherry Tree Cricket Club. Junior Coordinator, Micky Doolan, proudly accepted the award on behalf of the club at the weekend in the nicely named Cow Corner Bar.

The Railway in Huncoat has reopened.

May 2026

The Three B's Brewery in Blackburn have produced the two beers “From The Wood” after recently purchasing some Whisky casks. They chose one of their stronger dark ales, Old Bee 5.5%, as the first one, then followed up with the 4% Black Bull Bitter, both of which were available for a limited time and only at Black Bull pub to where the brewery is based.

The Dog Inn in Whalley has closed it's doors, albeit temporarily with it due to reopen in July after Heineken Brewery carry out a huge refurbishment when it will become a tied pub. Hopefully the 'upgrade' does not take away the homely feel the pub has had and the very good selection of real ales is maintained. Christine (with Chris) who has been at the helm for 34, had continued to maintain the ambience created by her husband Norman who passed away 3 years ago.

On 24th May the Waddington Village Club celebrated 100 years at the heart of village life. Originally opened in 1926 as the Waddington Reading Room, the building was created as a place for local people to meet, learn, socialise and enjoy recreation together. Built at a cost of £2,000, it served post-WW1 working men and young people, helping foster the community spirit that has remained part of Waddington for generations.

The beer of the festival at Clitheroe Beer Festival 2026 was the 4.2% Black Cherry Mild by Kissingate Brewery in Sussex.

The presentation for the Pendle Area Club of the Year 2026 award took place over the Bank Holiday Weekend to the Green Street Club in Barnoldswick.

CAMRA member Dave presented the award to bar manager Michelle Sharples and the team Martin Churchill, Linda, Libby, Emily and Harvey.

The Griffin Inn in Haslingden is, along with regulars of the pub, raising money to buy the pub after the building was put up for sale. Cuban-born Alejandro, who has been at The Griffin for four years, owns the pub business and the Rossendale Brewery located in the pub cellars. The sale has placed uncertainty over the future of pub which dates back 250 years.

Three Peaks brewery based in Kelbrook have opened a bar called "The Trig Point" on the newly reopened Colne market. They aim to work with other local brewery’s and distilleries with the aim to always offer locally sourced produce where possible. Go along and see the range of Real Ales, craft beers, wine, cocktails and spirits.

A proposal has been submitted to turn the former Hare and Hounds in Clayton-le-Moors into a convenience store. The pub was closed by Thwaites in May 2025 after several years trying and failing to make the pub more profitable.

East Lancs Branch & Pendle Area Pub of the Year 2026 awards
Pictured are Nina Bates and Simon Shackleton from Boyce's Barrel in Colne, with Peter Rushton and Pete Carroll making the presentation.

Alan Leach presented Josh at the Loom & Shuttle in Darwen the Blackburn with Darwen Area Pub of the Year 2026 award.

Always a good choice of ales and one is usually a dark one

April 2026

John Webster presented Justine and the team at The Royal Dyche the Burnley Area Pub of the Year 2026 award (photos taken from The Royal Dyche Facebook page).

In Oswaldtwistle, the Plough has closed and will reopen as a new adult day centre.

February 2026

The new owners of the Swan and Royal on Castle Street in Clitheroe have submitted a planning request to convert four additional letting bedrooms on the second floor of the pub. This would take the total to 10 in the pub with there already being six letting rooms on the first floor. The pub dates back in part to the 17th century and has hosted notable guests including Mahatma Gandhi, Sir Winston Churchill and Sir Frank Whittle.

January 2026

An application has been made to covert the Royal Oak in the Pleckgate area of Blackburn into a children's nursery.

A controversial plan to turn the Cross Gaits Inn at Blacko into a family hold is on hold after The Cross Gaits Community Pub Group made a new bid to reopen it. The pub was closed in January 2023 by the previous owners and the new owner has had several applications to change it into a family home and build a new home on the rear car park rejected.

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