Take a look round Kendal's Duke of Cumberland pub as it reopens to the public

The Duke of Cumberland has gained significant financial support and has doubled its staff size.

Joshua Macauley and Chris Moss, who added pub on Appleby Road to their portfolio last June, now employ 20 people and are recruiting even more staff as they look to the future.

They say they have been ‘overwhelmed’ by the public’s reaction to what they have done at the pub, including its enlarged beer garden, complete with covered timber cabins, each with its own fire pit.

£60,000 has been put into the beer garden and another £40,000 on refurbishments inside the building.

PUB: One of the new timber cabins, complete with fire pit at The Duke

Mr Macauley said: “We are delighted with people’s response to what we have done.

“Our aim has been to make The Duke of Cumberland a really nice, family pub for the community and local people, somewhere Kendal can be really proud of."

Mr Macauley and Mr Moss had already put in a new back bar, redesigned the front bar, refurbished the kitchen and redecorated internally.

Other work has included recommissioning the previously condemned fire to allow real log fires inside over the winter months, installing new washrooms and toilets, plus external redecoration and new outside lights and signs.

The beer garden includes four new covered timber cabins, which can seat 12 people, although only six are allowed in each at the moment.

“The cabins are already proving extremely popular and being booked in advance,” said Mr Macauley.

PUB: The Duke reopened on April 12

“On the first day of trading with them we had great feedback and one lady dropped off some flowers to thank us for making such a nice beer garden for Sandylands.”

Shrubs and a mature tree have been planted in the beer garden.

“We wanted to have a positive impact on the environment and to increase biodiversity,” said Mr Macauley.

The Duke of Cumberland has increased the number of ales on offer from around 10 to 24.

“We shall be looking at rotating the local real cask ales from places such as Fell Brewery at Flookburgh, Hawkshead Brewery and Bowness Bay Brewing,” said Mr Macauley.

The Duke of Cumberland re-opened on April 12, providing outdoor service to customers. Mr Macauley and Mr Moss also run Ye Olde Fleece Inn at Highgate in Kendal.

Visit thedukekendal.co.uk to book.