THE Furness Railway pub and hotel has reopened with its new beer garden.
A total of 25 new jobs have been created at the Wetherspoon pub and hotel, in Dalton Road, Barrow, which first opened in July 1998 and is managed by Rob Hope.
Wetherspoon has spent £750,000 developing the new beer garden, on the site of derelict land left by the demolition of a former registry office next to the pub.
The new-look garden features a choice of seating in upholstered seating booths or under one of the two retractable canopies.
Low-level planters divide the space into a grid formation, reflecting the layout of the streets in Barrow-in-Furness.
Pub manager Rob Hope, 32, said: “The Furness Railway is an extremely popular pub.
“We aim to offer customers the best pub possible – and the beer garden is a great addition.
“This investment highlights the company’s commitment to the pub and to Barrow-in-Furness itself.
“Hopefully, it will act as a catalyst for other businesses to invest in the town.
“I think it looks great, very surprised at how well they’ve got it to be fair.
“It was an eight-week programme and we shut the pub for a week. It took seven weeks with them doing work and then a week with the pub shut.
“It was full out here before but slowly the sun has been coming round and it’s reduced the size of people outside.
“We are expecting it to be packed when its sunny again.
“We’ve got all the furniture out the front still as well, like I said during the day so we should be packed out, fingers crossed.
“If it says anything, it’s a Monday and we’ve been full.
"You can’t book outside spots at the moment. But it is first come first serve."
Two patrons from Walney described how much they enjoyed the garden.
"It’s really lovely. Quite nice to come over and sit outside when the sun is shining and enjoy a cold beer or a glass of wine."
Another customer from Barrow said: "It's really nice, it's what is needed. It's spot on."
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