PHOTOS: Lancaster hotel, pub and restaurant unveils striking new look after £600K refurb

Tuesday, 8 July 2025 18:23

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

A popular hotel, pub and restaurant at the gateway to Lancaster has reopened after a £600,000 revamp.

The Toll House Inn has a striking new look after being closed for more than a month for refurbishment.

This includes a brand-new bar with timber and verdigris copper finishes, classic wall panelling, and artwork, along with a bespoke dining room carpet.

“What really makes the Toll House special isn’t just the food or the building – it’s the people behind the scenes and the ones that walk through the door," said Joe Ruddock, general manager.

"We’ve freshened up the space but kept all the charm and home-cooked food we know our customers love."

Lancashire-based hospitality group Thwaites, which owns the inn, partnered with John Blakeman Interior Design to complete the five-week fit-out.

John Blakeman, owner of John Blakeman Interior Design,said: “The design itself leads on the history of Lancaster, the age of the architecture plus the events that took place in the area.

"We've included traditional panel work and timber finishes on key focal points, including the bar and fireplaces – this is what you would’ve seen in Tudor courthouses.

"After that, we modernised the colour palette and installed bespoke lighting to add more grandeur to the overall look."

The Toll House Inn is on the corner of Penny Street and Aldcliffe Road at the gateway to the city centre.

Records show that a public house called the White Cross Inn was on or near the Toll House Inn site dating back to before 1820.

During the 1960s the White Cross Inn and the Farmers Arms were amalgamated into the one large pub with rooms above that stands on the site today, retaining the Farmers Arms name.

In 2006 the Farmers Arms closed for a full refurbishment and reopened in 2007 as Penny Street Bridge hotel.

Following another investment and refurb in 2015, it took on the name of the Toll House Inn.

Here are more photos inside the revamped Toll House Inn.