A Carlisle entrepreneur is preparing to open her latest venture in the city.

Former headteacher Dianne Irving, who is managing director of pub and bar owner Drouth Limited, has taken over the Milbourne Arms, in Shaddongate.

She said she will breathe new life into the venue by celebrating two of the city’s well-known brands - Carlisle United FC and Linton Tweeds.

“Carlisle United was born out of Shaddongate United who used to play in this part of the city,” said Dianne.

Shaddongate United was formed in 1896 and it was not until 1904 that it became Carlisle United FC and later moved to Brunton Park.

Dianne said: “To celebrate this history of the city’s football team, and their origins in this part of the city, the bar staff’s uniform at The Milbourne Arms will be the classic football tops in the blue and yellow of Shaddongate United, complete with the club crest, that the team would have worn at the time."

With the Milbourne Arms being in what was known as The Mill District of Carlisle and close to the former Shaddon Mill, Dianne also wanted to ensure the venue marked the area’s fabric manufacturing heritage.

It will be decked out in fabrics made by Carlisle's Linton Tweeds, which works with fashion houses in London, Milan and New York.

Dianne said: “Linton Tweeds is another Carlisle success story to celebrate which we don’t shout about as a city as much as we should.

“We will be using the wonderful Linton Tweeds fabrics in the furnishings at the Milbourne Arms to help us achieve that and bring that story to the attention of our customers."

The Milbourne Arms opening follows Dianne's £350,000 refurbishment of the Howard Arms in the city centre.

The Milbourne Arms was previously owned by Linton Tweeds.

Linton Tweeds managing director Keith Walker said: “She has done a really good job at The Howard, restored it really well, and brought the history of the venue to life."

Dianne also runs the Crown Inn at Stanwix and the White Mare hotel and restaurant in Beckermet.

Keith added: “We know that when Dianne gets involved she will do something right, she will invest in the pub and make it somewhere really nice to go to.

“She is following the history theme at the Milbourne Arms as well which is great to see, with old photos of the Milbourne Arms and photos of the early days of Linton Tweeds when it was known as Linton Cumberland Homespuns Limited and when workers from the mill would go round to the pub for a drink after work.

“We have some old shuttles and hand winders which we don’t use anymore and bobbins which we have given to Dianne to use around the pub as decor. And she is also using our fabric for the chairs as well. We are delighted with the way it is all being done."