An iconic Cumbrian visitor attraction is preparing to reopen with a new identity after lockdown.

Lockdown forced Nenthead Arts and Visitor Centre to close in March. When the attraction, housed in former Wesleyan Methodist Church, reopens it will be as The Hive at Nenthead.

The Hive sits high in rural landscape at the crossroads to the three counties of Cumbria, Durham and Northumberland.

The management team has been busy during the weeks of lockdown preparing to relaunch with a name more reflective of the wide variety on offer to visitors of all ages.

The Hive will restart activities on July 4 when it hopes to entice people out of their homes with food and an art exhibition.

The venue opened last year with the help of a £1.7m Heritage Lottery Fund grant.

The imposing chapel had sat closed and neglected and fallen into disrepair. But the enthusiasm of locals to see it once again be a landmark in the Pennines’ Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty saw a sympathetic renovation take place to rejuvenate the building.

Alongside the fresh name, there will be a new website, signage and an emphasis on promoting the area’s rich mining and social heritage and natural beauty.

The chair of Nenthead Chapel Enterprise Limited, Sandra Mackenzie, said the previous name didn’t portray the central role the former chapel was once again playing in people’s lives.

She said: “Hive suggests ‘busy, active, creative, building something together’. And that’s what we think the centre is doing and what we want it to do for many years to come. We had got into our stride with the café, dining experiences, live music and art exhibitions and word of mouth was spreading. Rather than sit on our hands during lockdown, we wanted to make sure that when we came out of it, we had as strong a brand as possible.”

The Hive will be concentrating on its café and bookings for private celebrations before it gets back to its full range of live events.

Sandra said: “The health and safety of our visitors, staff and volunteers will, of course, be of paramount importance and we’ll be ensuring the services we offer adhere to the guidelines on social distancing, hand sanitising and the like.

“We’re lucky to have a small outside area for tables and chairs and a large car park nearby which means those who may be taking their first day trips in many weeks will have a place to stop and visit. We hope people will choose us as a destination and ‘drive to The Hive’."

During lockdown, the venue has kept its fans entertained with a series of online features, including a virtual art exhibition and VE Day memories.