Golden Lion pub, Rainford to undergo £600,000 renovation

The Golden Lion in Rainford is to be renovated as brothers Chris and Jon Nevin look to fulfil a mission to bring a "great traditional village pub".

Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars1 and The Old Hall Pub Company, headed by Chris and Jon, are investing more than £600,000 in a major upgrade of The Golden Lion.

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Building work starts on January 6, 2020 and the pub will reopen in mid-March, in time for Mother’s Day with 30 new jobs being created by the reopening.

A graphic of what the Golden Lion will look like

Inside, the pub is being given a complete overhaul, while retaining its traditional country pub feel complete with wooden panelling and the addition of open fires.

It is being opened up to create a more spacious environment providing plenty of room to sit and drink or eat. Raised alcoves will be available for private dining or small functions.

Meanwhile, the front of the pub is being given a facelift, redecorated in a stone coloured render with white window surrounds, new lighting and signage. This, along with a few more touches, will return the pub to a building that enhances the village facilities and look.

At the back of the pub there will be a fantastic new paved terrace, dining tables and comfortable seating along with a large grassed outside area to enjoy on sunny days too.

There will also be new guest parking facilities and a rear entrance porch with ramp for ease for access

The new food at The Golden Lion will use local produce throughout the menu complemented by a weekend specials menu.

The pub will be open for weekend brunch from 8.30am and food will be available from 12pm until late evening daily.

For children and mid-week diners the pub will also offer a selected choice of smaller plates from the main menu.

A freshly prepared Sunday lunch with all the trimmings will complete the week.

The Golden Lion is the brothers’ first pub together though Chris has more than 20 years’ experience in the pub industry including relaunching many successful pubs and new hotels.

Chris and Jon Nevin

Chris said of their plans: “We both love the area having grown up around here.

"When we saw The Golden Lion was available we immediately saw its potential.

"We’re going to offer top quality surroundings, excellent service, great food and drink all combining together to deliver a great traditional village pub. It’s all about doing simple things well.

“We’re keen to support the local community and will source ingredients locally. We’re very much looking forward to reopening The Golden Lion and to meeting the community. We hope people will pop in for a coffee, a meal or drop in for a fireside drink and socialise with friends. Whatever, the reason, you’ll find a warm welcome.”

David Pritchard, Star Pubs & Bars Regional Operations Director, added: “The Golden Lion is a gorgeous Grade II listed building in a lovely location.

"We’re delighted that Chris and Jonathan are taking it on and wish them well with their plans. They make a great team especially with their local knowledge and Chris’ wealth of experience helping to create popular pubs and pub restaurants.

“Heineken is a passionate supporter of the great British pub and invested £50m in 2019 in pubs like The Golden Lion ensuring they continue to be relevant to their local communities and are sustainable in the long-term.

"This investment will take The Golden Lion to a new level and ensure it stands out from other pubs in the area. It’s a great start to the year.”