A POPULAR pub has reopened under new management after a long closure.

The Waggon & Horse, in Chorley Road, Westhoughton, was shut for around two months before opening its doors to the public again this week.

The pub will be serving food and drink seven days a week and kicked off its new run with a bang after taking part in a massive fireworks display on land behind the building last week.

Organisers were pleased by the response from residents after hundreds of people liked a Facebook page announcing plans for imminent the reopening of the business.

Steve Wilkinson, will serve as chef and manager of The Waggon & Horse, and has been working in the catering industry for more than 30 years.

He said the project was "very exciting" and that he hoped the interest in the pub's Facebook

“I’m excited to get started,” he said.

“Our social media site has been hammered with people sharing things. We got about 500 hits in the first day when we said we were reopening.

“People are really happy that the place is going to be open again.”

The pub has been popular among walkers due to its location and the management hopes to cater to this by offering a "dog-friendly" room.

The area, which is separated from the main bar, will offer food and drink.

Previously, the Waggon & Horses has been through a number of owners.

In November 2014, the then-popular carvery closed, prompting owners Marstons to invest in refurbishment and install restaurant fixer Peter Haynes, who had managed the venue previously, as a new boss.

It then went through a series of managers before it closed around August this year.

For more information about opening times and the menu for the pub, call 01942 812273 or search for The Waggon and Horses, Westhoughton on Facebook.