A POPULAR Lake District hotel which was ravaged by fire is set to reopen following a £2 million refurbishment.

Owners Robinsons Brewery have announced that the Queen's Head, at Troutbeck, near Windermere, will once again be open to guests from April, almost three years after a blaze tore through the Grade II listed building.

To tackle the flames in June 2014, there were at one stage more than 50 firefighters from 11 crews trying to bring them under control. Fortunately, nobody was hurt but 50 people, including staff and guests, had to be evacuated.

William Robinson, managing director of the pubs' division for Robinsons Brewery, said it had been a long road to restore the Queen's Head but he was looking forward to welcoming guests back after a lengthy wait.

“It’s no easy feat restoring such a historic pub," he said. "It was of the utmost importance that we worked closely with the local council to ensure the most authentic restoration of the original building’s fabric.

"The Queen's Head has never been a case of ‘reinventing the wheel’ and it will pick right up where it left off – a cosy, family friendly pub where you can enjoy a pint, a great night’s stay, and a warm, hearty meal.

"The outpouring of support from local residents and previous customers has been brilliant and we can’t wait to welcome them back to the Queen's Head this April.”

The newly-restored Queen's Head will feature a large drinking area with secluded dining areas, with focus being around the three original real fireplaces which have been repaired. The bar will feature a range of real ales, craft beers, premium lagers, wines and award-winning spirits with a focus on the Queen's Head’s new eye-catching gin range.

The new menu will highlight a mixture of hearty classic pub food with a menu created to include requests from people who have contacted the brewery through Facebook to make sure their favourite dishes are featured.

There are also 10 newly-refurbished en-suite guest bedrooms named after the iconic Lakeland fells of Great End, Bowfell, Great Gable, Pillar, Helvellyn, Skiddaw, Nethermost, Catstycam, Scafell Pike and Esk Pike, providing the perfect base for guests.