A familiar face is returning home to take over a once-popular pub that has been shut for almost two months.

The Cheetham Arms, on Blackburn Road, is set to re-open later this month, either November 28 or 29.

The new landlady, Lesley Johnson, said: “I’m from the area so I have plenty of support, I know quite a lot of people in the area.

“I used to live in Harwood and my family still live in Bromley Cross.

“I’ve been in Blackpool for 12 years, so I’m coming home and they’re all quite happy by the sounds of it.

“Hopefully, I will get the old customers back. I did get the word out [on the Bromley Cross Facebook group] and they are all very happy for it to be reopened.”

Cheetham Arms landlady Lesley Johnson (left) with front-of-house manager Allison Draper (right)Cheetham Arms landlady Lesley Johnson (left) with front-of-house manager Allison Draper (right) (Image: Lesley Johnson) In the new year, she hopes to reinvent the pub as a gastropub with a seasonal menu and home-baked cakes.

Lesley said: “There’s a few events I’ve got planned and confirmed.

“I’m planning on doing a quiz night, having a live band on the 6th and another night on the 18th.

“There will also be a suggestion box to see what locals want from their pub.”

Lesley used to run the Farmer’s Arms in Great Eccleston, near Preston, and she will be bringing her bar staff over.

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In five years she hopes that the Cheetham Arms will establish a reputation as a “very successful gastropub” and stand out in Bolton - and beyond.

She said: “We will have seafood and special evenings, like strictly nights, game nights – and also game weekends.

“All at reasonable prices – nothing too extravagant!”

(Image: Newsquest)

For the rest of this year, though, she is preparing the pub for the Christmas season and hopes to have all the decorations up before opening.

Lesley has planned a special night at on December 6 to introduce herself, and the newly refurbished pub, to the local community.

A spokesperson from Stonegate Group, the owners of the pub, said: "We're excited to be reopening the Cheetham Arms and welcoming our new landlady, who is passionate about creating a fantastic experience for guests.

"The team can't wait to open the doors and make this Christmas one to remember at the Cheetham Arms.

"We're looking forward to seeing what the future holds for the pub and can't wait to see the local community enjoying everything the pub has to offer."

The Cheetham Arms closed in September.

It was once called  The Brewhouse before reverting to The Cheetham Arms – the pub's original name.

Now people are looking forward to being it back open.

One regular customer said: "It is nice to see it opening again.

"We used to go for meals there and looking forward to seeing it as a gastropub, we are looking forward to it reopening."