Heysham micropub owner takes on traditional village pub nearby

Peter, who opened The Bookmakers in March 2019 after spotting a gap in the beer market, said he wanted to make the Ship Hotel one of the key meeting points in Overton

Depending on lockdown restrictions, Peter said he hoped to give the pub a soft launch on May 17, followed by an official opening on the May Bank Holiday.

He said: "Our ambition, with your support, is to re-launch The Ship Hotel back to its former vibrant glory and to make it one of the key meeting points of the village.

"With the centre-piece being a roaring log fire, our aim is to provide some of the finest cask ales, craft beer and lager along with your regular typical alcoholic beverages, with a further ambition to provide in house home cooked food.

"We will be dog friendly and child friendly and we will offer a designated area for those dining inside with their K9 companions.

"Yonkers (children) accompanied by an adult will be free to sit wherever they choose when dining.

"We will have a games room with a pool table, dartboard and board games for your entertainment during your visit with us and we will look to support local teams in hosting matches and events.

"We will have a function room to support local events, club meetings, hobby clubs and other private functions.

"We will have outside tables with seating, initially to see us through the global pandemic but longer term for patrons to enjoy some of our home cooked meals, refreshing beverages or just soak up the summer sun and tranquil surroundings."

The Ship is now undergoing a full interior re-fit and cellar upgrade, and Peter said he also aimed to re-instate the original collection of over 5,000 rare bird eggs to the Ma McClusky room.