A popular brewery has applied to expand its tap house in its countryside setting.

Rivington Brewery Company, based in Home Farm off Horrobin Lane, Rivington, is looking to expand its public bar facilities into a stables and store on the site to welcome more customers.

The brewery has been growing in popularity in recent years with their beers served at pubs and bars across the region and beyond. The beers are brewed at the farm, on Lower Rivington Reservoir, with the tap house a very popular spot for beer enthusiasts and walkers, especially during the summer months.

It was founded by Ben Stubbs and brother-in-law Mike Richardson in 2014, with these plans looking to create more room for seating and additional toilets.

A planning application submitted to Chorley Council said: "With the third generation of the family becoming ever more prominent with the day-to-day running of the farm, their venture with the already established Rivington Brewery Company, is another diversification. By utilising the facilities that the farm offers, and making best use of the available buildings, is the perfect opportunity to developing a more sustainable and profitable business running alongside an ever more challenging agricultural economy.

"This new application relates to the expansion of the established Brewery Public Bar, into the adjacent haylage store and stables. The proposed accommodation will create additional internal seating and standing room to customers, together with the conversion of stables to internal toilet facilities.

"It is proposed that the additional internal floor space, will cater for the approximate number of customers as experienced through the summer months.

"It is anticipated the internal layout will afford seating for 40-50 persons. Externally, picnic bench seating is already established and is predominantly for summer use."

Earlier this year Rivington Brew Co. teamed up with the teams from Northern Monkey, in Nelson Square, Escape Brewery, based in Westhoughton, Blackedge Brewery, in Horwich, Withnell's in Chorley, and Tin Head Brewery in Bradley Fold, have made a new pale ale called 'Close Quarters'.

Chorley Council is expected to decide on the planning application by November 17.