A FALTERING pub is being given a new lease of life - by its former landlady!

The Fox and Grapes, Preston New Road, Blackburn, closed after the tenant pulled out of the business earlier this month.

But Sandra Maher, who left the Thwaites-owned pub 14-weeks-ago for another bar in Preston, has returned to get the popular boozer going once again.

Sandra said there was a lot of hard work ahead of her but she wanted to make it the community hub it was when she left. And there's even a sign in the window which reads "old management back by popular demand".

She said: "I always got on well with the regulars and I want to build up the reputation of the pub again.

"When I left I wanted to do so, but I realised that I wanted to return to the Fox and Grapes and Thwaites ask me to come back when the tenants left.

"I'm looking forward to making the place good again because I opened it two years ago and got it going."

Many regulars were shocked at the pub's closure this month and despite the Lancashire Telegraph recen-tly reporting that at least 58 East Lancashire pubs had closed, Sandra is confident about the future of the Fox and Grapes.

She added: "The pub is not the same as when I left but I will build it back up again and make sure it is open for everybody.

"There's even been a pole-dancing pole put up in the function room.

"There's a chance that I might look to run pole-dancing fitness classes for young women and make some use of it.

"That's what seems popular these days so I might look into it.

"The smoking ban did make a big difference to trade when it came in but there are drinkers here who like coming to the pub and I think that makes a big difference.

"I'm really quite excited about the challenge of going back to the pub and making a go of things again."