A BOARDED up colliery pub has reopened and its name pays tribute to the area’s mining heritage.

The Black Bull on Main Street, in Ferryhill, was rundown and almost derelict when it was bought by Northern pub company Amber Taverns.

Architects and interior designers Innex Design were employed to refurbish the building in a £400,000 project that took eight weeks to complete.

It recently reopened as the Dean and Chapter, named after the town’s old coal mine which employed thousands of boys and men between 1902 and 1966.

Bosses say the name was chosen to honour the 75 miners who lost their lives at Dean and Chapter Colliery and the interior features pictures of the old colliery.

Innex converted the two-room pub out into one open plan area with an internal courtyard with glazed sides.

John Catelani, of Innex, said: “The Black Bull pub had become an eyesore in a very prominent position in the town so we were honoured to restore it and reinvigorate it for the modern consumer.”

A meeting of Dean Bank Residents’ Association heard recently that a number of residents had written to the management to complain about poor disabled access to the building and been assured that improvement would be made.