THE owners of a pub which fell foul of listed building rules when historic oak panels were painted blue have apologised.

The Bolton News reported in January how owners of the Grade II listed Shakespeare Hotel in Glynne Street had breached regulations after the panels were painted as part of a refurbishment.

Its owner, Warringtonbased Bravo Inns, applied for listed building consent for the retention of the painted panels.

That permission has been granted by planning chiefs — on condition the firm returns the oldest oak panels to their original condition.

Built in 1926, the pub was given listed building status in 2004.

Before the work took place, The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) — which opposed the application — described the pub’s interior as having “woodwork of the highest quality”

which made it “one of the finest remaining examples of an inter-war suburban pub". Bravo Inns’ managing director Ken Buckley, said: “We have 32 pubs, 14 of these were closed and boarded up.

“We’re bucking the trend and providing community pubs.

“I can do nothing but apologise unreservedly for the situation we find ourselves in. We purchased it in 2007 and its listing took place in 2004. We should have known.”

Since Bravo Inns took over the running of the pub it has improved, according to ward councillors.

Farnworth councillor Jean Gillies said: “Since Bravo Inns has taken over there’s been a big change in clientele and it’s started to make a profit.”

Committee member and fellow Farnworth councillor Noel Spencer added: “We have been really impressed with the commitment we’ve seen from Bravo Inns.

“We’ve seen improvement with no problems with antisocial behaviour or criminal activity that previously went on there.”

Planning officers had recommended the application be refused, but the committee approved it under the condition the panels near the fire place be restored within six months, and the rest of the oak panels within the next five years.

But the committee agreed that the bulk of the painted panels were in fact not oak but soft wood fitted in the 1950s and that they could remain as they are.