The Ring o Bells has now reopened.

The local newspaper reports that the Cock and Dolphin will shortly reopen.

KENDAL’S Cock & Dolphin Hotel is to reopen next month after being closed for nine months:

Pub chain breathes life back into closed inns
3:26pm Friday 1st August 2008

KENDAL’S Cock & Dolphin Hotel is to reopen next month after being closed for nine months.

The Milnthorpe Road pub, which opens its doors to customers on Friday (August 8), is one of three South Lakeland inns currently being resurrected by Britain’s largest pub chain, Punch Taverns, reports Allan Tunningley.

The Bull’s Head Inn, Milnthorpe, which closed two weeks ago after tenants got into financial difficulties, is also expected to reopen this month with veteran pub landlord Colin Burrows at the helm, while the Ring O’ Bells, Kirkland, which has been open only in the evenings in recent months, has been taken over by former joiner, Glyn Carradus from Kirkbarrow.

Mr Burrows, who will continue to run his existing pub, the Hare and Hounds at Levens, said: “It’s not cut and dried yet, but I am in negotiations with Punch Taverns to take over The Bull’s Head Inn. If everything concludes as expected, the inn will reopen in the middle of August.”

The new tenants at the Cock & Dolphin are Clare and Ian Marshall, who until recently ran The White Swan at Malham in the Yorkshire Dales.

Mr Marshall said he was inviting customers to enjoy a free drink, food and entertainment on the day the Cock & Dolphin reopens.

“There’s a lot of work to do, but we are determined to be ready to welcome customers on August 8, especially the local residents,” said Mr Marshall. Mike Gardner, business relationship manager at Punch Taverns, said rents for the three pubs had been pitched “more realistically” to take account of the current economic downturn that had “affected people’s disposable incomes”.

The move indicates how seriously pub chains are taking the slump amid reports that beer sales have fallen to their lowest level since the Great Depression 75 years ago.

Mr Gardner predicted both the Kendal pubs, which will provide accommodation as well as food, would benefit from the redevelopment of K Village, due to be completed next year.

“We are really planning for the long term with these pubs,” he said.

He admitted the Cock & Dolphin had a “chequered history” and before it closed had three landlords in just six months.

“I’m very pleased that Clare and Ian are now taking over. They have been in the industry for around nine years running pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants and I have every confidence in their ability.”

Mr Gardner said the Marshalls were investing a substantial amount of their own money in carrying out improvements to the pub which, in recent months, had been boarded up, and Punch Taverns was earmarking £90,000 to upgrade the living accommodation and function room in the autumn.

Mr Burrows, who is chairman of South Lakeland Licensed Victuallers’ Association, said: “I have been critical of Punch Taverns in the past but I am pleased to say the company is now going in a different direction regarding providing proper care for tenants.”

Hey!

Reopened Ring O'Bells:
http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/29/...g_OBells/Kendal

And will open Cock and Dolphin Hotel on thursday for the opening on Friday.