A NEW Harry Potter inspired cocktail is proving to be a big hit in the Lake District

The Village Inn Bar and Grill at Bowness has created 'a unique' cocktail inspired by the Harry Potter franchise.

The venue is now offering customers the ‘butterbeer cocktail’, famously depicted in a number of the smash hit movies.

Comprising a secret combination of old fashioned butterscotch sauce, butter, vodka, lemonade and cream, the Village Inn has already sold more of these than any other cocktail, since its recent launch.

Owner Ian Dutton said that having unveiled new menus for both food and drink, and engaged the services of Gareth Webster, Simon Rogan’s former head chef at the Pig and Whistle, Cartmel, the introduction of a completely different product was entirely natural.

“We’re delighted with the reaction to our new butterbeer cocktail and were keen to create a really unusual taste.” he said. “We’re all Harry Potter fans – who isn’t?! The timing was also appropriate given the recent death of Alan Rickman – one of our favourite characters - so it’s also a nod to him.”

The Village Inn is situated just seconds from the shores of Windermere and serves fresh, locally sourced produce.

The venue has also launched a new ‘skinny champagne’ – a drink with fewer calories.

Mr Dutton is also opening a new bar/restaurant in March in Windermere called ‘The Pig’, with a menu specialising in pork dishes – a meat he claims is often underrated.

Mr Dutton worked as head chef under John Tovey at The Miller Howe Hotel before opening The Miller Howe Cafe in Grasmere nine years ago. With his wife Annette, he has managed The Queens Head Hotel in Troutbeck for five years, and took over management of The Village Inn Bar and Grill in Bowness in 2011.