A POPULAR Ribble Valley pub and restaurant has re-opened its doors following a £200,000 refurbishment.

The Feilden's Arms, Mellor Brook, had been closed since July, but new licensee Colin Gibson has vowed to breathe new life into the establishment, with the help of a Turkish-born chef.

The building has been refurbished inside and out and is now serving Italian and Mediter-ranean food at lunch-times and evenings made by new head chef Hayattin Baycu, who was raised in Sicilly.

Mr Gibson, 49, said: "We took over on September 1 and though we were refurbishing we managed to get the bar area open in 10 days and the restaurant opened last Saturday.

"It has taken a lot of hard work but the place looks brand new and we are very excited about the restaurant, which has a great ambience and relaxed atmosphere.

"We have employed a very skilled chef, who is in charge of a team of four making Italian food with a Mediterranean flavour and we also have a brand new extensive wine list.

"It is very authentic and the feedback we have had so far has been great."

Mr Gibson has taken on nine new waiting-on and bar staff and is still looking to recruit further, depending on experience.

The Feilden's Arms, formerly owned by the Walker family and run by celebrity chef Nigel Smith, closed its doors in July after its new owners, who took over in February, suffered a family bereavement.

It was re-acquired by the Walker family before being sold to Punch Taverns, who are leasing the pub to a company called MGH Enterprises, who Mr Gibson works for.

Mr Gibson, a father of three, is originally from London and spent 25 years in the Navy before moving into licensed trades.

He has managed the Royal Temple Yacht Club in Ramsgate, Kent, and arrived at the Feilden's after managing a golf and country club in Altrincham.

MGH Enterprises, which is based in Cumbria, operates nine pubs along the M6 corridor.

The Feilden's new-look restaurant is open from noon to 2.30pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays and every evening from 6pm.