A KENDAL pub has reopened its doors, hoping to offer a comfortable and relaxed environment for drinks and food.

The Gate of Kendal, formerly the Dun Horse, on Stramongate, has undergone an extensive refurbishment over the past two months.

Kimberly Sweeting, licensee of the establishment, said that it took a ‘lot of hard work’ to transform the space.

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“But we put a lot of love into it to get it to what we want it to be today,” she said. “The aim is to provide a beautiful setting for food and drinks. It’s comfortable, you can stay as long as you want. Down the bottom end we’ve got longer tables so we can have bigger parties in.”

Offering craft beers, cask and draught ale and more than 10 different kinds of gin, the bar is well stocked for the evening drinks trade.

Currently the kitchen only offers afternoon tea and platters - in a couple of weeks a full menu will be on offer.

“We will have all the deli meat boards, artisan bread sandwiches, fresh flatbread pizzas,” Kimberly said. “Our chefs are amazing - they’re young and enthusiastic. They’re creating all the menus to be around really fresh local produce.”

She is keen to draw on the early evening trade, saying that when she came to look around she noticed that not many places served food after 4pm.

“During the day it’s comfortable and food orientated but still a friendly atmosphere to come to even if you just want to have a drink on an evening,” she said. “And weekends there’s music and the bar but still the atmosphere of nice and comfortable.”

Originally from Sunderland, the 33-year-old has already enjoyed a warm welcome into the town and is keen to employ local people and use local drinks and ingredients.

“It’s been brilliant,” she said. “With me not being from here you don’t know how you’re going to be taken.

“You want the locals to come in and have a look around and everyone’s been lovely and really positive. Everyone’s really nice - all our customers have been lovely, wishing us all the best and to do well.”

The Gate of Kendal is open seven days a week. Full food menus will be posted on the business’ Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/thegateofkendal/