A PUB is preparing to reopen today (Saturday) after banishing its ‘smelly, disgusting ladies’ toilets’.

Samantha Maud and her fiancé David Hartley took over the running of Ambleside Tavern in November and have worked hard to reinvent the pub as a bright and welcoming place to be.

“The pub itself hasn’t had any proper work done on it for the past 12 years,” said Samantha.

“When we took over in November it was very dark. The previous owner had painted it all dark green and really, really dark pinks so we’ve come in and freshened and brightened it up.”

One of the big talking points of the pub before the refurbishment was the stench of the ladies’ loos.

Miss Maud said: “Hopefully there’ll be no more smelly, disgusting ladies’ toilets.

“People have said they avoid the pub because of the toilets.

“We said we weren’t happy with the toilets from the get-go, and they (the brewery) agreed to do the works.

“The gents have gone back to their original location where the baby change was, and the gents are now a baby change.

“The ladies was ripped out and redecorated with new vanity units and mirrors. All the cubicles have been painted and it’s looking well.”

As well as the much-welcomed change to the toilets, a new floor has been laid in the bar area and new carpet has replaced the ‘thread bare’ carpet in the raised area of the pub.

Changes are also underway to create a new food menu, and Samantha and David are working with the brewery on the drinks menu.

It is hoped that the changes to the pub will make the pub more welcoming to families.

“We are looking forward to reopening on Saturday (today),” said Samantha. “We’ve got a full day of sport - Six Nations and football - and then on Saturday night (tonight) from 9pm we have live music with Bailey Moore.

"He’s local to Ambleside and he’s really good. He’s only young but he is absolutely amazing.

“Me and Dave took over on November 17 so we were straight into the light switch on, the World Cup and then Christmas.

“It’s been quite nice to have these two weeks (of refurbishments) to watch how it’s coming together.”

The pub reopens from 12pm today.