In recent years Wrightington's former The Hinds Head on Mossy Lea Road has been an Italian restaurant and a tapas bar (twice).

But when enthusiastic new owner Paul Rogers takes over this week he will restore the name and – he hopes – the pub's status as "the" village local. The businessman plans to transform The Hinds Head into a gastro pub, offering classic British dishes made with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients plus a choice of wines by the glass and real ales, all delivered by a restaurant-style table service.

Mr Rogers has already turned around the fortunes of The Railway at Euxton, converting it from a men's drinking pub into a popular gastro pub that attracts almost 800 diners a week at a time when the pub industry as a whole is in crisis.

It has earned him a place as a finalist in Lancashire Life magazine's forthcoming food and drink awards as Newcomer of the Year and he hopes to mirror that success at The Hinds Head.

He said: "Pubs are no longer seen as just a beer house and I believe we're bucking the national trend because we offer the quality food of a top end restaurant, but with the more informal atmosphere of a pub along with sensible pricing.

"The Hinds Head has had many different identities, so I am going to take great pleasure in returning it to its roots as a gastro pub and welcoming back the locals. We also can be involved with the bowling green."
It will officially open at the end of the month.