A POPULAR pub on Carlisle's Botchergate looks set to reopen under new management.

The Cumberland Inn offered a peek into the venue on social media, saying it 'won't be long now' until it is re-opened under new management.

The post read: "A sneaky little peek inside The Cumberland, not long now for the new owner, new manager and staff to greet you with a warm welcome."

Many locals were excited about the news.

One fan, Amanda Liddell, said on social media: "Best news ever".

Troubled past

The pub's rebirth follows a troubled recent history. The licence of the pub in the Grade-II listed building was revoked last October after a committee hearing heard about a catalogue of incidents, including occasions when strict Covid lockdown rules were flouted.

A video found on social media showed people dancing in the pub – some with their shirts off – at a time when Covid-19 restrictions did not permit dancing in premises and only allowed table service.

Cumbria Constabulary had requested Carlisle City Council review the licence of the Cumberland Inn on Botchergate due to concerns police had about 'safety of the public and staff' back in October 2021.

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Police said the application was also in relation to the management of the pub – claiming that it was 'inadequate', 'unprofessional' and had left 'customers and staff at risk of harm'.

A last-ditch attempt to reinstate the licence of the pub failed back in April, after magistrates were told that it was so badly managed that it posed a 'danger' to its customers.

Previous owner Gholamreza Mohtashami told magistrates that a total of 87 troublemakers had been barred from the pub – more than from any other pub or bar in the Carlisle area. He also described how he had introduced tougher security measures, issuing two-way radios to every member of staff.

The court heard under the previous owner, there had been 43 emergency calls to the police because of incidents at The Cumberland Inn.

Magistrates ruled against lifting the Carlisle City Council imposed licence revocation, accepting the argument from the authority's barrister that the former leaseholder's control of the pub was now 'at the end of the road.'

The new leaseholder for the Cumberland Inn has been approached for comment.

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