A SOUTH Lakeland pub has undergone a £200,000 refurbishment and is open for business with an ‘exciting’ new head chef.

Ribble Valley Inn’s Highwayman Pub in Nether Burrow near Kirkby Lonsdale opened in 2007 but the team recently decided it was time for a refresh- including the menu.

“It’s an exciting time, we’ve been working on this development behind the scenes for a while,” said founder and Executive Chef for Ribble Valley Inns, Nigel Haworth.

“It’s the first time I’ve handed over the reigns that bit more, and I’m really proud of what’s come out of this.”

Head Chef Jason “Bruno” Birkbeck, from Kendal, learned his craft at the town’s Catering College.

His career has seen him travel the globe and he has done stints closer to home in The Samling, Windermere, and Hipping Hall, Kirkby Lonsdale.

And despite his fine dining pedigree, he has always aspired to run his own premium pub kitchen.

“It’s been such an exciting journey so far, but my heart’s always been in this part of the world,” he said.

A combination of the pub’s unique position on a ‘tri-county’ border - taking advantage of the locally sourced ingredients from Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Lancashire - and his cookery style, is hoped to the put this pub on the foodie map.