Popular Lancashire pub reopens after £1m revamp

The Boatyard in Riley Green, Lancashire, has reopened following a £1m transformation with the new name of Grill & Grain at the Boatyard, as it now features a large wood-fired grill and microbrewery.

Thwaites embarked on a mission to find the best in grilled food and it has led to the development of a new concept for the company. The grill has been specially imported from America and will be positioned so it is in full view of the restaurant.

Not wanting to lose sight of the brewing it has become famously known for over the past 200 years, Thwaites is also developing a range of beer especially for Grill & Grain at an on-site microbrewery.

Director of Brewing and Pub Operations at Thwaites, Andrew Buchanan, said, ‘We’ve travelled far and wide in our quest to find the best in grilled food, testing different cooking fuels and cooking methods. What we found is nothing can replicate the flavours of open fire cooking.

‘We’ve gone to great lengths to bring that to Grill & Grain at The Boatyard, importing our wood-fired grill and smokers from America to recreate the flavour sensations we want. It will not only help us cook delicious food but it will add an element of theatre to the dining experience.’

Buchanan continued, ‘It’s a really exciting development for Thwaites and we have invested substantially in transforming the pub. The whole pub is being refurbished – completely overhauling the restaurant, doubling the size of the outdoor seating area as well as refurbishing the bedrooms.

‘The micro-brewery is a great addition for us as we will be able to use our brewing experience from Daniel Thwaites that we have built up over nearly 210 years and bring it directly to Grill & Grain. It’s going to be great to see this develop.’