LOSTOCK Gralam residents have been thanked for their support for a charity race night at the re-launched Slow and Easy Hotel.

The thanks came from Jacky Beasant, who has taken over as the landlady of the Manchester Road hotel, which has reopened after being closed for about a month.

Jacky wants to turn the Punch Taverns hotel into a family-friendly pub for the whole community, and was delighted by the support from local people for Friday’s family race night.

The event raised £770 for a local family who are supporting The Christie, and the money was raised from eight races, an auction and a raffle.

“I didn’t expect as many people to come along on the night, and the pub was packed,” said Jacky.

“Everyone enjoyed themselves, and people have asked if we are going to have another race night.

“It was nice to see local faces who had not been to the pub for years, and I would like to thank everyone for coming along and businesses for donating raffle prizes.”

Jacky is a well-known figure in the community, being a member of Lostock Gralam Parish Council and having been the sub-postmistress at Lostock Gralam Post Office.

“I am working closely with Punch Taverns, the licensing authority and the policing partnership unit to make The Slow and Easy a family-friendly pub for the whole community,” said Jacky.

“People are pleased the pub has re-opened, and we had The John Colins Band to relaunch the pub.

“It was really well supported, and since I have been back at the pub it’s like I never left.”

Jacky is running The Slow and Easy with her daughter Emma, and was landlady at the hotel for more than four years from the year 2000.

This was followed by four years as the landlady at The Bulls Head in Davenham, and she was sub-postmistress for 10 years at Lostock Gralam Post Office in Manchester Road until April 2014.

Jacky has been a member of Lostock Gralam Parish Council for four years, and is planning a family barbecue at the hotel over the Easter weekend.