A FATHER and son combination is taking over a much-loved Ramsbottom pub.

Bill and Will Gallie, are now in charge of The Eagle and Child on Whalley Road.

The father and son duo, who also run the Holcombe Tap, will be taking over from Glen Duckett, who bought the pub in 2011 and ran a social enterprise helping vulnerable young people find employment.

After Mr Duckett decided to step down to focus his efforts to his social enterprise, Eat, Grow, Thrive, Bill and Will were approached by pub company, Thwaites, with the offer of replacing him.

They say they want to keeping the pub ethos Mr Duckett established and will retain many members of the same team, while adding a new, modern feel to the menu, and the interior and exterior of the pub.

Will said: “We’ve run the Holcombe Tap....and when Glen decided to focus more time on his social enterprise, we were asked to take over.

“When that opportunity came up, we couldn’t turn it down, and saw it as a chance to put our own stamp on it.

“My dad and I agreed we wanted to make it more contemporary, with new menu items taking inspiration from all over the world, for example with new Thai and Spanish dishes.

“In the outside, we’re going to have a nice new bar area, a pizza oven, and update and modernise the inside a bit, while maintaining the classic pub feel.

“It will be much the same, we don’t want to reinvent the wheel, but just add to what’s already there and we’re really excited to take the pub forward.”

During the pandemic, Mr Duckett, along with the pub’s staff and customers raised money for several charities, including £1,700 for homeless charity, StreetSmart UK and £5,300 for Lymphoma Action.

The pub also donated over 1,500 meals to vulnerable people through Eat Well Manchester.

Bill, Will’s dad, said: “My mind is racing with all the things we plan to do, we’re delighted to have such a strong team and can’t wait to get stuck in.

“This pub has always had a great reputation, which is why we were so happy and lucky to have been approached.

“We want to enhance that reputation and add even more to the great selection they’ve always had, with new wines, ales and interesting new food.

“We can’t wait to get stuck in.”

Mr Duckett will now focus his time towards Eat, Grow, Thrive, a social inclusion business he started in 2020 that builds social enterprises, based in sustainability and social regeneration, to give young people more opportunities and has worked in education and the environmental, catering and hospitality sectors.