A NEW manager has been revealed at a Barrow hotel and restaurant.

Rachel Stobbart has taken over managing the day-to-day running of The Clarkes Hotel and restaurant at Rampside and on Friday March 8, it will open its doors again.

Rachel first started working at The Clarkes when she was a teenager back in 2010. Over the years she has worked with and learnt from three previous owners Thomas Twigge, Lakeland Inns and Dave and Julie Noonan.

The Noonan couple announced in early February they would be leaving.

Rachel said: “I have seen the place change and adapt for over a decade and through Covid. I've grown up with The Clarkes so the place has a very special place in my heart. I'm fully committed, alongside our amazing team, to building our reputation with wholesome, quality food.”

The building, which dates back to 1720, will be reopening with a ‘brand new look’ that focuses on modernising while at the same time highlighting the hotel’s history.

As well as a makeover, the restaurant is also offering an ‘amazing new menu’ that will incorporate pub classics and new dishes.

The team wants to work with as many local businesses and suppliers as possible to achieve the best flavour combinations and make sure they ‘suit everyone's tastes’.

Rachel’s aspirations for the hotel, bar and restaurant are for it to become a ‘destination pub’ where couples can go to enjoy date nights and families can visit and catch up.

The hotel is also in the process of transferring to a new Facebook Page ‘The Clarkes - Rampside' following some accessibility issues with the old one. After losing almost 4,000 followers, they are hoping to gain their community back.

Rachel added: “We want to be a clean friendly home from home and I think the quaint village of Rampside with those stunning views across the bay is many people's favourite place to be.

“We are all so excited. It can't come quickly enough for us. I cannot wait to see our regular customers alongside some new faces too. We also have a few surprises in store.”