CLOSED Knutsford pub, The Folly, is set to reopen as a bar and restaurant under its old name, The Freemasons Arms. 


The Folly, in Silk Mill Street, was closed August after just a year of ownership from Rose and Crown owner Mathew Mooney. 


Now the listed building, first made in 1754 as a silk mill and turned into The Freemasons Arms pub in the 1890s, will be brought back into use and will go back to its former name.


The bar and restaurant will open this Friday, December 18, just two weeks after new first-time owners Chris Storey and Ross Pollock, both 27, started the refurbishment. 


Chris said: “My business partner Ross knows the area well so we were looking originally to open a bar restaurant in Lytham St Anne’s, but we saw The Folly come onto the market and it was perfect. 


“This building has a great history and speaking to the locals, the Freemasons was a popular place, so we want to bring the name back. 


“We will be aiming to keep the heritage and character of the building alive but bring a bit more of a contemporary feel.”


The new bar restaurant will be a smokehouse serving specialising in such foods as ribs and chicken wings, but also serving vegetarian meals. It will also serve a selection of local beers and cask ales.